To monitor the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) polls, 172 executive magistrates will be active on the field.
The Election Commission (EC) has directed the secretary of public administration to appoint magistrates.
The EC has asked for the appointment of 43 magistrates till Jan 27 and the appointment of the other 129 from Jan 28 till Jan 31. A directive to remove posters and banners of all candidates within one or two days is expected shortly.
The Additional Secretary of EC, Md Mokhlesur Rahman told Bangla Tribune: “A Letter has been sent to the ministry of public administration to look after the elections.”
Returning officer Abul Kashem says: “A few notices have been issued but the notice to bring down posters has not been issued as yet.”
As per rules, after the declaration of polls schedule, no campaigning will be allowed. Campaigning will only be allowed after electoral symbols are allotted.
The schedules were declared on Dec 22 and the voting would take place as per schedule. The last date for the submission of nomination papers is Dec 31.
Meanwhile, notices issued on Monday (Dec 23) states that to become candidates for two city corporations, the current mayors need to resign first.
As per the local government law-2019, any person occupying the post of mayor will be deemed ineligible to contest at the city corporation elections.
THE rules also state that if someone is found guilty of moral transgression and is sentenced to 20 years in prison then that he/she will be deemed unfit to contest for five years after completing his sentence.
Even if someone facing such allegations lodges appeals at the high court s/he will not be able to become a candidate unless the punishment it suspended or waived.
Another notice of the EC states that no political party can put up more than one candidate for the post of mayor, and in case any party does so, then the nominations of all its candidates will be cancelled.
Names of the nominated persons along with his/her signature and post have to be submitted to the returning officer within seven days.