Dhaka Bureau: The Election Commission (EC) has issued a circular outlining some of the guidelines for the reasons why polling may be stopped on the day of the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections.
On Sunday (December 10) afternoon, the Deputy Secretary of the Election Management Branch. The circular, signed by Atiyar Rahman, has been sent to returning officers across the country.
According to the instructions, if at any time the polling is interrupted or interrupted due to reasons beyond the control of the presiding officer and it is not possible to resume it within the time fixed for polling, he shall stop the polling in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972. The matter will be reported to the members of the local law enforcement agency as well as the returning officer.
Besides, if any transparent ballot box used in a polling station is unlawfully and forcibly removed from the custody of the presiding officer, is accidentally damaged, willfully destroyed or lost, or is so damaged or defaced, the result of the polling station concerned cannot be determined. In this case, the presiding officer will also stop the polling.
At the same time, inform the returning officer. The returning officer will inform the Election Commission in the form of a report. Fix a date for fresh polling with the approval of the Election Commission.
If the results of the constituency are not determined except for the results of the center where polling is closed, the Election Commission will direct the returning officer to re-poll. The returning officer will issue a public notice fixing a day and time for polling at that center as directed by the Election Commission. In such a case, all the voters at the respective polling stations can vote, and votes cannot be counted in the closed-declared election.
According to the schedule, the nomination papers for the 12th National Assembly elections were submitted by November 30. Nomination papers are selected from December 1–4. The last day for the withdrawal of nomination papers is December 17. Allotment of symbols on December 18 Candidates can start campaigning only after that. Voting will be held on the January 7 ballot papers. Candidates will end their campaigning 48 hours before the polls.
