Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has advised that complaints regarding breaches of the electoral code of conduct against any candidate should be submitted directly to the relevant returning officers or Election Enquiry Committees (EEC) to ensure a faster resolution. EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed communicated this directive during a briefing with reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the Agargaon area of the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Akhtar Ahmed emphasized the importance of sending a copy of the complaint to the EC, while noting that filing complaints solely with the Election Commission can result in delays. "If a complaint is filed with the Election Commission, it usually takes one to three days to reach through bureaucratic channels, during which time the importance of the complaint gradually diminishes," Ahmed stated.
Ahmed further explained that direct submission of complaints to the EEC or returning officers expedites the process. "There are 300 Electoral Inquiry Committees in 300 constituencies," he added, underscoring the infrastructure in place to handle such complaints efficiently.
Addressing concerns about potential delays with postal ballots, Ahmed assured there would be no significant issues. He detailed that while the delivery could take up to 13 to 14 days due to distance, deadlines for issuing, submitting, and receiving postal ballots have been established to mitigate complications.
He also clarified that while the vote counting for national elections and the referendum will be conducted separately, these processes will occur simultaneously. "The counting of postal ballots may take a little longer," Ahmed noted.
In concluding remarks, Akhtar Ahmed urged all stakeholders to act responsibly to ensure that the EC can conduct the upcoming elections in a fair, impartial, and acceptable manner.