AL needs EC's permission to hold Dec 10 rally

Returning officer's permission is needed to hold a political rally, Election Commission additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said on Sunday.

He made the remark after a meeting with the European Union four-member delegation team at the Election Commission in Dhaka's Agargaon at around 11am on Sunday.

When asked whether the EC permitted the Awami League (AL) to hold a rally on December 10th close to the south entrance of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in observance of Human Rights Day, he said the EC did not receive any letter informing them of the event.

An AL press release announced the rally on Saturday.

A journalist asked Ashok Kumar Debnath whether the party could hold the rally without permission. The additional secretary answered, "The commission will take measures if the code of conduct is violated."

He also said, "Permission is needed to hold political rallies anywhere. Our code of conduct has to be followed."

Regarding the meeting with the EU delegation, Ashok Kumar Debnath said, "They will observe various election matters during their stay in Bangladesh till January 23. They had some queries to use. We informed them of the matters."

/KN/