EC orders suspension of all organisational elections until February 12

To ensure a free, fair and influence-free 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, the Election Commission (EC) has directed that all types of organisational elections across the country be suspended until February 12.

The directive was issued on Monday (January 12) through a letter signed by Mohammad Monir Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the Election Management–2 Wing at the Election Commission Secretariat.

The letter states that the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum will be held on February 12. To ensure that the electoral environment is not influenced in any way, all elections of professional organisations, educational institutions, transport owners and workers’ associations, journalists’ associations, merchants’ associations and chambers of commerce, cooperatives, trade unions, as well as both registered and unregistered organisations, must be suspended.

The EC has stated that any elections of the aforementioned organisations must be held after February 12.

The Election Commission said this precautionary decision has been taken to ensure that during the parliamentary election, no disorder, conflict, or unwanted influence arises from local or professional organisational elections.