Home Ministry bans political gatherings from Dec 18

Staff Reporter :
Responding to the directives of the Election Commission (EC), the Home Ministry on Thursday issued circular imposing restriction on holding political programmes except the election campaign and publicity related activities during the election period from December 18.

The Public Security Division (PSD) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the circular on Thursday.

The circular has been forwarded to all of the returning officers (RO) across the country on Thursday following the instruction of the EC, so that the January 7 national election can be held peacefully.

The circular said, “The meetings and rallies, which can hamper the election activities and de-motivate the people or voters from casting their votes, will remain restricted from December 18 to till the voting day.

Following the instruction of the authorities concern, it’s requested to abstain from declaring or implementing such programmes during the period.”

Earlier on December 12, the EC Secretariat sent a letter to the Public Security Division (PSD) to take necessary steps in this regards to hold a free, fair and peaceful national election on January 7 next year.

Candidates of January 7 will start official campaign from December 18 after getting polling symbols. The appeal hearing of the candidates, whose candidature was lost during the scrutiny of the nomination papers, is now going on. The hearing will be completed on Friday.

After the withdrawal of candidature on December 17, the candidates will get symbol on December 18. The official election campaign will be started from the same day, according to the EC.