The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul yesterday reiterated that no convicted person under Emergency Power Rules (EPR) would be allowed to take part in the forthcoming elections scheduled to be held on December 18.

"Anyone convicted under Emergency Power Rules, up to the day of scrutiny of nomination papers, will be considered unfit for elections," he said while inaugurating the second phase of a training programme on electoral laws for Deputy Commissioners (DCs).

The CEC said the Commission wants to see the candidates for national elections as 'role models'. "We don't want to see convicts, loan defaulters and bill defaulters as candidates," he said.

According to the section 11(5) of the Emergency Power Rules-2007 that says those convicted during the state of emergency in the trial court for corruption cannot participate in the elections; even if an appeal is pending with the High Court.

Dr Huda asked the DCs to work neutrally during the forthcoming polls as returning officers. He suggested them to be carefully during scrutinising of nomination papers.

"All concerned officers must work neutrally to that end," he said.

He reminded the DCs to properly examine the information given by candidates themselves by affidavits.

The CEC referred that the Commission sent a list of winning and defeated candidates in the past three national elections to Bangladesh Bank and said the central bank would inform the returning officers on whether there are any defaulters among them.

He warned if ballot papers were found outside polling centres during the election, those responsible would face a maximum 10 years of imprisonment.

"In the past, many ballot papers had been found outside polling centres. The new electoral laws provide punitive measures including fines and imprisonment for such actions," he said.

Election Commissioners Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain and Muhammad Sohul Hussain were also present on the occasion.

32 DCs attended the training programme in the second batch, while another 32 DCs had participated in the first phase on October 25.

Meanwhile, Canadian High Commissioner Robert McDougall yesterday formally handed over the translucent ballot boxes to Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda.

At the request of the Bangladesh Election Commission, a total of 240,000 translucent ballot boxes were procured through a UNDP project valued over USD 5 million with Canadian funding.

These boxes will be used during the 2008 elections and subsequent elections, preceded by comprehensive politic-electoral reforms in the interim period following the past crisis over election issues.

The introduction of translucent ballot boxes is aimed at building confidence among the electorates and bringing greater transparency in the electoral process.

"The Government of Canada is happy to contribute to the tremendous amount of work being done by the Election Commission, the Caretaker Government and others to create a peaceful environment where elections will be free and fair," said the Canadian High Commissioner.

He said it is their hope that the use of these boxes will encourage greater citizen participation in the electoral process and help ensure that the votes cast on Election Day reflect the would of the people.

Translucent ballot boxes allow light to pass through the box, while ensuring that ballot papers cannot be read once placed inside. They assure voters that the boxes are empty prior to the election while also securing voters' privacy at the polls.