CEC asks executive magistrates to treat all candidates equally

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Sunday asked the executive magistrates to treat all the candidates equally while discharging their election duties at Nirbachan Bhaban in city’s Agargaon.

"Your duty is to treat all the candidates equally -- it’s neither less nor more," he said.

The CEC was briefing the executive magistrates deployed for election duties in different districts of Sylhet, Chattogram (except Cumilla district) and Barishal divisions, reports UNB.

Nurul Hunda also asked the magistrates to ensure the safety of presiding officers. "Your duty is to assist them (presiding officers). Never volunteer to guide them. if you do, it will be a mistake," he added.

He said the executive magistrates will have to read the electoral code of conduct alongside the penal code thoroughly as they need to take many prompt decisions during the election.

Four election commissioners -- Mahbub Talukder, Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanom and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury -- also spoke on the occasion. 

On Saturday, the Election Commission started the three-day briefing for the executive magistrates for checking the violation of the code of conduct ahead of the upcoming national election slated for December 30.

The executive magistrates from different districts of Dhaka and Mymensingh division and Cumilla district attended the first day's briefing.

On November 12, the EC directed the Public Administration Ministry to appoint executive magistrates at the field level to check the violation of the electoral code of conduct.

One executive magistrate was deployed for every upazila, one for three to four wards of city corporations, one to two magistrates for each district sadar municipality and one magistrate for three to four upazilas of the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

The magistrates will discharge the election duty till the next day of polls (Dec 31).

The Commission will deploy more executive and judicial magistrates on a large scale a few days before the general election.