The Election Commission says that it will write to the government to ensure that the returning officers are not briefed by any administrative offices or officials.
It has instructed the EC Secretariat on Tuesday (Nov 20) to issue a letter in this regards, EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told the media.
The decision comes after the BNP wrote to the Commission over the appointments of 45 serving and retired bureaucrats as mentors to advise the local administration in as many districts.
Deputy commissioners, who are in charge of the administration in a district, serve as the returning officers for the election.
“Returning officers work under the EC. The cabinet division and other concerned government offices will be notified to ensure that such allegations do not surface in future and to refrain from convening meeting of returning officer,” EC Secretary Ahmed told the media.
Responding to a query on appointing mentors, he said that the cabinet division appointed them on Nov 8.
“This is a common practice; the government can do it if it wants,” the EC secretary said before adding, “But the EC was not informed on the matter. However, the appointments have been stalled on Nov 13.”
On the BNP’s allegation of him and the DMP chief ‘inciting’ the Nov 14 Naya Paltan clash, Ahmed said, “The Secretary serves as the EC’s spokesperson and not a separate entity. The job of the secretary and his office is to implement the Commission’s decisions.”
Referring to the BNP’s demand of a shuffle in administration for a level playing field, he said, “The EC never accepts proposals for a sweeping transfer ... However, the EC will investigate upon specific complaints.”