Lawmakers cannot carry out any kind of polls activities for party candidates in local government polls including serving as campaign coordinators, says Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.

"MPs cannot be involved in any part of the election ... They can't be barred from anything which does not concern the polls. However, they can't serve as [campaign] coordinators," he said on Saturday (Jan 11).

Speaking to the media after a meeting with a delegation of the ruling Awami League-led by senior leader Tofail Ahmed, the commission chief said that the electoral code of conduct stipulates that MPs can't participate in any polls-related activities "indoors or outdoors".

The ruling Awami League formed two steering committees with lawmakers Tofail and Amir Hossain Amu as the chief coordinators, to supervise the overall polls activities of the Dhaka North and South city corporations respectively.

Responding to a query on the two ruling MPs heading the panels, CEC Huda said, "I believe they can't [be in the panels]. We are yet to receive official information over the members of the panel. We would have barred them if it was available."

Asked whether MPs can accompany candidates, the CEC said the law does not prohibit that.

"We cannot bar candidates from participating in political activities [of the party] in the election areas. MPs can also take part but cannot make remarks on polls. For instance, they can attend events celebrating Mujib Year, but cannot solicit votes."