The Election Commission on Tuesday asked the home ministry to take necessary measures to prevent all kinds of political rallies and processions except election campaigning from December 18 to the end of the January 7 polls.
EC deputy secretary Atiar Rahman sent the letter to the Public Security Department of the home ministry.
The EC letter also directed the ministry to prevent everyone from adopting and implementing political programmes that might hamper election work and discourage voters from voting.
‘It is desirable to prevent all parties from adopting and implementing political programmes, which may hamper electoral work and discourage voters from voting,’ the letter said.
Earlier on the day, ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader urged the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies to take a strong position against the anti-election forces.
He made the call at a press conference held at AL president Sheikh Hasina’s political office in the capital’s Dhanmondi.
Terming the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as the biggest threat to the country and nation, the AL general secretary said, ‘BNP-Jamaat is doing politics by keeping the country’s people hostage.
BNP and some other major political parties are not contesting the polls as they are holding street protests demanding the cancellation of the polls schedule and the resignation of the AL, handing over the power to an election-time party-neutral administration.
