EC moves to prepare polling officers’ panel

Staff Reporter :

The Election Commission (EC) has instructed all field-level offices to prepare a panel of polling officials for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections, with a clear directive to exclude any officials whose competence or impartiality is in question.

A letter issued on Monday, signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain, outlined the process. District election officers have been directed to submit their panels by October 30, which will serve as the pool for appointing presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers.

According to the directive, the list is to be prepared by drawing from officials and employees of government, semi-government, autonomous, private offices, as well as educational institutions. The EC stressed that members of political parties must not be included under any circumstances.

The commission also instructed that candidates for the panel should be selected based on integrity, efficiency, impartiality, courage, seniority, and overall competence. If necessary, details on an official’s age and physical or mental fitness are to be documented.

An EC official told reporters that the measure is part of the commission’s effort to ensure a credible electoral process. “We are working to build maximum trust in the election machinery,” he said, noting that controversial or politically aligned officials had raised concerns in previous polls.
The EC is currently preparing to hold the next parliamentary elections in the first half of February, amid heightened political scrutiny over its ability to guarantee a fair and inclusive vote.