The Election Commission has asked the government not to transfer any officials or members of the law enforcement agencies engaged in the duties for the 13th national election and the referendum without prior consultation with the commission.

The Commission, in a recent demi-official (DO) letter signed by its senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed, asked the Cabinet Division secretary to follow this instruction from the announcement of the polls schedule until 15 days after the voting, in line with the law.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday announced the schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on February 12 next.

Two divisional commissioners, 64 deputy commissioners, and three regional election officers have been appointed as returning officers for the election. Upazila Nirbahi Officers and some EC officials will act as assistant returning officers.

In the letter, the EC said that to conduct election-related activities smoothly, officials and employees from all ministries, divisions, government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, and in some cases from private offices and educational institutions, will need to be recruited as polling officials. Besides, magistrates and law enforcement members will be deployed to maintain law and order.

To ensure the proper execution of the election and referendum duties, the EC stressed that officials assigned to election work must perform their responsibilities impartially and in accordance with the law and regulations, said the letter citing Article 126 of the Constitution and Sections 5 and 44(nga) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

So, the EC requested the government to instruct all ministries, divisions, and government, semi-government, autonomous and private organisations not to transfer or grant leave to any officer or employee involved in election duties—or assign them to any other task that may hamper their election responsibilities—without prior consultation with the commission after the schedule’s announcement.