The Election Commission (EC) plans to amend the electoral code of conduct ahead of Gazipur and Khulna city corporation elections.
The move comes in response to the ruling party Awami League’s demand for allowing members of parliament in election campaigns.
The issue is expected to be presented in the EC meeting scheduled for Thursday amid strong opposition from election observers.
“A political group has proposed to bring changes to the electoral code of conduct. The issue will be scrutinised in a commission meeting. It is up to the commission if the proposal will be accepted or not,” EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said on Wednesday.
AL Central Executive Committee member ABM Reazul Kabir Kawser said an AL delegation headed by Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam made the proposal to the commission arguing that allowing MPs’ engagement in election campaigns will ensure level-playing field.
“We are now waiting for the EC’s decision.”
In 2015, the then Election Commission headed by Quazi Rakibuddin drew the flak over the issue of ministers and MPs’ engagement in election campaigns following the local government elections.
Primarily, the electoral code of conduct keeping opportunity for the ruling party’s MPs participation in election campaign and using public vehicles and other instruments was primarily drafted.
In the face of harsh criticism, the code of conduct had been banning participation of ministers and MPs in the election campaign.
This has dismayed the ruling party from the very beginning.
“The Election Commission has shown its cruelty to the Awami League to appear neutral,” said HT Imam, co-chairman of National Election Steering Committee of Awami League, prior to the Cumilla City Corporation election.
The AL has long been demanding relaxed rules allowing its MPs to take part in Gazipur and Khulna city corporation polls to be held on May 15.
However, Election Working Group (EWG) Director Abdul Alim opposed the demand made by the ruling party.
“The Election Commission should create a level-playing field for everyone. A new amendment allowing MPs to campaign for the same political group will bring disparity as the local administration will not be able to ignore people in power,” Alim said.
He believed other candidates will be deprived if the ruling party gets all benefits.
Leaders from both BNP and Awami League met the chief election commissioner and placed their demands after the schedule for Gazipur and Khulna city corporation elections was announced.
“We came to request that movement of ministers and MPs are not controlled during the upcoming local government election,” Imam told journalists following the meeting.
According to bdnews24, demanding an amendment, he said the code of conduct has many problems and needs to be amended for holding smooth and fair elections.
The EC secretary said the scheduled meeting will also discuss demands made by the BNP to the commission regarding the election.
