Rangpur Correspondent: The Election Commission has issued 13 instructions for the media workers who want to collect the news of the Rangpur City Corporation election. According to these instructions, after entering the polling station, journalists can collect information, take pictures and record videos by notifying the presiding officer. However, it is mentioned in the instructions that one cannot stay in the polling station for more than 10 minutes.
According to the Election Commission’s 13 instructions for media workers who wish to collect news, no sticker will be issued for the use of motorcycles by journalists for news collection work, said the returning officer.
13 guidelines for journalists in Risik elections
1. Journalists holding a valid card issued by the Election Commission can directly enter the polling station. After entering the polling station, the presiding officer can be informed and collect data, take pictures and video of the polling process. However, in no way can you collect or capture images of secret rooms.
2. At the same time, journalists from multiple media cannot enter the same polling booth and cannot stay in the polling station for more than 10 minutes.
3. Election officials, election agents or voters cannot be interviewed in the polling booth.
4. Live broadcasting cannot be done from inside the polling booth.
5. In order to broadcast live from inside the polling station, it must be done at a safe distance from the polling station, and the polling process cannot be obstructed in any way.
6. Journalists can watch the counting of votes in the counting room, but cannot broadcast live.
7. No live broadcast from the polling station on any social media including Facebook.
8. Abstain from all activities that disrupt the polling process of the Centre.
9. Journalists at the polling station shall obey the lawful instructions of the Presiding Officer.
10. Can’t interfere in the work of election officials.
11. Do not touch or remove any election materials.
12. Abstain from any kind of propaganda or hateful propaganda for or against the candidate or any political party while collecting election news.
13. Will abide by the election laws and rules to assist in the election process.
Director (Public Relations) and Joint Secretary SM Asaduzzaman of Election Commission Secretariat of Bangladesh Election Commission said that action will be taken in accordance with the election law, rules and codes if the said instruction is not followed or if it is violated. On the occasion of Rangpur City Corporation general election-2022, a circular regarding the principles of journalism has been issued on December 18. This circular is the returning officer. Abdul Baten was sent by Director (Public Relations) and Joint Secretary SM Asaduzzaman of the Election Commission Secretariat.
Meanwhile, journalist leaders have objected to some of the principles or guidelines of the Election Commission in gathering news. Acting General Secretary of Rangpur Press Club Sajjad Hossain Bappi said these instructions of the Election Commission are a kind of obstacle to independent journalism. This time journalists are not even allowed to use motorcycles, it is sad. Besides, the commission is not giving cards to online news portal journalists for collecting election news as there is no PID accreditation card.
In this regard, Abdul Baten, the returning officer in charge of Rangpur City Corporation elections and joint secretary of the Election Commission, said that there is a need to provide cooperation so that the journalists can easily collect election news at various times including the polling day. But it must comply with the rules applicable at the time of election, polling and counting of votes. The commission has made policies in light of what is necessary to make a fair, beautiful, free and peaceful election.
It is to be noted that in this third largest city election for the third time, 9 candidates including Mustafizar Rahman Mostafa, 9 candidates for the post of mayor and 67 candidates for the post of reserved councilor (women) of 33 wards and 179 candidates for the post of general councilor have contested.
This time 4 lakh 26 thousand 469 voters in Rossi will exercise their right to vote on December 27. Among them 2 lakh 12 thousand 302 males and 2 lakh 14 thousand 167 females. On this day, continuous voting will be held from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM in 229 centers through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).
