Desk Report,
Committee led by DC-UNOs to set up polling stations eliminated
The provision of forming a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Upazila Executive Officers (UNO) to set up polling stations for the National Assembly elections has been removed. The Election Commission (EC) has already published the ‘Policy for Setting Up and Managing Polling Stations for the National Assembly Elections – 2025’ in the form of a gazette after bringing this amendment.
Committee led by DC-UNOs to set up polling stations eliminated
Setting up polling stations is the job of the EC. EC officials had been doing this. But before the last parliamentary elections, the commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal involved administration and police officials in this task. For this, the policy was amended. At that time, it was widely criticized. Now, EC officials have regained their power to set up polling stations.
The policy made during the Awal Commission stated that at the upazila level, there would be a five-member committee headed by the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) to prepare a draft list of where polling stations would be located. At the district level, there would be a seven-member committee led by the DC. The draft list of polling stations prepared by the upazila committee would be sent to the metropolitan or district committee. This committee will conduct on-site inspections of polling stations on the basis of random selection and give its opinion. The district election officer will send the draft list along with this opinion to the Election Commission.
EC officials say that since the new policy made under the current commission has omitted the provision of forming committees at the upazila and district levels, the task of setting up polling stations has been returned to the field level officers of the EC.
The policy states that one polling station should be set up for an average of 3,000 voters and one room for an average of 500 male voters and 400 female voters. If the existing polling station is destroyed/unusable due to river erosion or any other reason, the polling station should be set up in consultation with local dignitaries/political parties. Even if it is necessary to set up new polling stations due to an increase in the number of voters, the polling station should be set up and the list should be determined in consultation with local dignitaries/elected representatives/political parties.
The policy stated that the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the concerned police station, Upazila Education Officer and Upazila Secondary Education Officer will be members of the polling station setting committee at the upazila or thana level. The member secretary of this committee is the Upazila Election Officer. And the member secretary of the Metropolitan or District Polling Station Establishment Committee is the District Election Officer. The members will include the representative of the Divisional Commissioner (where applicable), Superintendent of Police, representative of the concerned Metropolitan Police Commissioner, District Education Officer and District Primary Education Officer.
