JS Polls: EC to monitor social media to stop propaganda

The Election Commission will monitor the social media platforms, especially Facebook, to prevent spread of propaganda ahead of 11th parliamentary election scheduled for December 30, EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said on Wednesday.

The commission will hold a meeting with the officials of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), telecom operators, and Cyber Crime Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on November 26 in this regard, he told reporters at the EC Secretariat.

Replying to query, Helal Uddin said that the issue of election campaigns being carried out in Facebook by some aspirants will be discussed in the meeting.

He, however, assured that they have no plan to block Facebook ahead of the election.

The commission will also instruct the law enforcers so that no militant attacks take place during the election, the EC secretary said, adding that the law enforcers are on high alert to thwart any such attack.

The chief election commissioner (CEC) will also hold another meeting with the inspector general of police (IGP) and DMP commissioner on maintaining law and order situation during the election and they will come up with some instructions, he said.

The commission and the law enforcers will ensure peaceful atmosphere during the elections and also ensure that all the candidates, irrespective of their party affiliation, will feel comfortable, the EC secretary also said.

The commission will also instruct the law enforcers to enforce drives to recover illegal arms, and give special attention to violence prone centres and those adjacent to the borders, Helal Uddin added.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION?

Election Commission has revised polls schedule, deferring the 11th general election by a week to December 30 – a decision taken on November 12.

The authorities have fixed November 28 as the deadline for filing nomination papers, December 2 for scrutiny and December 9 last date of withdrawal.

The move came following demands from several opposition political parties.