Taking picture, video in polling booth an offense: EC

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 19:30, Nov 30, 2018 | Updated : 22:01, Nov 30, 2018

Taking picture, video in polling booths a crime. FILE PHOTO/Syed Zakir HossainTaking pictures or videos inside the polling booths will be considered a criminal offense, said Election Commission Additional Secretary Kamrul Hassan.
His remarks came during a training of trainers programme at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon on Friday (Nov 30), reports BSS.
During the program, he instructed the trainers to convey this information to the presiding officers and briefed them on dividing up responsibilities for the polls officers’ roles and measures to hold fair polls.
Detailing the vote casting process, Hassan said, “At first, a voter’s identity must be ensured after a person enters the polling centre. Then, the voter will give fingerprint and be provided with a ballot paper.
“Then, the voter will cast a ballot at the polling booths. No one including polls officials is allowed to enter the polling booth.
“Only people with visual impairments are allowed to take one person to the secret room for assistance,” said Hassan.
The EC official said, “If anyone tries to cast a fake vote it’s the presiding officers’ and assistant presiding officers’ initial duty to restrain the person from doing so.
“Immediately, the person will be handed over to on-duty police and punished by the mobile court,” Hassan instructed the polls officials.
“Polls observers can’t stay at a palace for long and they are not allowed to enter the voting booths. The presiding officer also not allowed to give an interview to the observers,” Hassan informed.

/st/hb/
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