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EC rejects Bar Council appeal to observe CCC elections

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Syed yesterday rejected Bangladesh Bar Council's appeal for permission to observe the upcoming Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls describing the organisation politically biased and inexperienced.
The CEC at a meeting of the Election Commission (EC) ignored the opinion of Election Commissioners AK Mohammad Ali and M Munsef Ali in favour of allowing the council to observe the CCC polls slated for May 9.
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The rejection decision came when the EC Secretariat officials pointed out that the policy on poll observer does not allow an organisation, which does not have any previous experience, to function as poll observers.
Meeting sources said a senior official told the CEC that he personally knows some of the Bar Council leaders who have strong political bias.
The Bar Council appealed to the EC for permission to engage 86 of its members to observe the CCC polls.
A number of organisations have already applied to the EC for permission to observe the polls, but only those who observe polls regularly will be allowed to do the job, said sources.
Responding to an application by ABM Mohiuddin Chowhdury, the incumbent CCC Mayor and also a contender for the mayoral post, the EC has asked the home ministry to take necessary measures to ensure security for him.
Besides, it summoned the Chittagong Metropolitan Police commissioner to appear before the EC on April 30 to answer the allegations against him of partiality in discharging duties. The EC also asked the leaders of the Nagorik Committee who demanded withdrawal of the police commissioner, to appear before the EC with documents in support of their allegations.
The EC formed a one-member inquiry committee to probe the alleged rigging at the April 20 by-election in ward No 63 of Dhaka City Corporation. EC Deputy Secretary AKM Salimullah has been asked to submit the probe reportin two weeks.
In the polls, local lawmaker's men allegedly captured the polling centres and attacked opposition candidate who later in protest boycotted the polls.
Meanwhile, the government yesterday announced public holiday for areas under Chittagong City Corporation on May 9, the election day.
All government, semigovernment, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices, institutions and agencies in the CCC area will remain closed on that day so that the voters can cast their votes, said a handout yesterday.