EC withdraws Sherpur UNO, OC

The Election Commission has withdrawn Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and the officer-in-charge (OC) of Jhenaigati police station after a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader was killed after clash between activists of the BNP and Jamaat during a manifesto unveiling programme in Sherpur-3 constituency.

EC’s Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed the development while briefing reporters at the EC headquarters in Dhaka's Agargaon this afternoon.

Condemning yesterday’s incident, the EC secretary said, “The electoral code of conduct clearly states that campaigns, including manifesto unveiling, must be held in a cordial environment. Unfortunately, a tragic incident occurred there [Sherpur’s Jhenaigati]. As part of administrative measures, the UNO and OC have been withdrawn.”

He added that other procedural aspects will be ensured as soon as possible.

Yesterday afternoon, clashes between activists of BNP and Jamaat took place in Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila, leaving over 50 people, including Jamaat leader Rezaul Karim, injured.

Rezaul, 42, secretary of Jamaat’s Sreebardi upazila unit in Sherpur, died on the way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital last night.

About journalists’ permission card for the February 12 twin votes, the EC secretary said, “Journalists covering the upcoming polls will receive manual accreditation cards, similar to previous elections.”

“This morning, journalists spoke with the chief election commissioner. In line with their request, we will reinstate the card system. Those already processed online will remain valid,” he explained.

Akhtar Ahmed further noted, “We will make arrangements so that journalists receive cards in the same manner as before. However, re-establishing the system will take a little time.”