Cops want no journalist in polling stations

Police want restrictions on journalists' access to polling stations in the December 30 municipal polls, but the Election Commission has said “no” to it, EC sources said.

Some top and mid-level police officials yesterday came up with the suggestion at a meeting with the EC on law and order ahead of the polls.

The EC expressed dissatisfaction over the role of some Returning Officers (ROs), who are authorised to conduct the polls, for their “negligence” in duties in many cases, meeting sources said.

Top officials of home ministry, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, deputy commissioners (DCs), superintendents of police (SPs) and ROs were present at the meeting at the capital's Biam auditorium.

A senior cop told the meeting that many journalists broadcast polling activities from inside the voting booth where they stay for long, hampering ballot casting. Therefore, rules should be introduced for journalists to cover the voting day from outside the polling stations.  

Another senior police officer suggested the EC formulate specific rules on journalists' behaviour on polling day. Otherwise, it may create misunderstandings among law enforcers and journalists over entering and staying inside the polling stations like in the past, the sources added.

Some mid-level police officials alleged that a section of the media always highlighted negative news in line with their “business policy”.

In response, the EC said it would not impose any such restrictions on journalists because the media play the role of a helping hand to find out irregularities, an election commissioner told The Daily Star, asking not to be named.

After the meeting, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, however, urged the media men not to stay inside the polling stations for long.

"If a large number of journalists throng a polling centre at a time, it will hamper voting activities. So one group should leave the polling centre after staying a few moments to create chances for other groups," the CEC said.

In Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls in April, some journalists faced obstructions by law enforcers to enter polling stations.

About the role of ROs, the EC thinks the ROs in some municipalities are not discharging their duties properly.

An election commissioner said media reports portray different incidents of rules violation almost daily. But the ROs claim nothing is happening. “What is the truth? The returning officers should inquire into the news reports.”  

The CEC and another commissioner also criticised the role of law enforcement agencies and polling officials in some past elections.

Several incidents of capturing polling centres and ballot stuffing occurred in some previous elections in the presence of sufficient law enforcers, the CEC said.

"The law enforcers will have to respond promptly if any untoward situation occurs on voting day," he added.

Another commissioner said they faced an embarrassing situation both at home and abroad over some allegations of regularities by law enforcers and polling officers in previous elections.

An election officer proposed that the EC issue show-cause notice and take legal steps against MPs and ministers for rules violation, as the ROs at rural level may not dare do so.

The EC, however, did not pay any heed to it and said the ROs would closely monitor it and take legal actions against the rule-breakers and send report to the commission.

About law and order, two senior intelligence officials suggested taking extra security measures in northern districts as the region has seen a spate of militant activities recently.

Militants may target public gatherings of electoral campaigns, one officer warned.

Another intelligence official cautioned that intra-party conflicts centring on rebel candidates of the ruling Awami League might rise in the coming days.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the CEC said the overall situation was favourable for holding a fair election and candidates were campaigning in a festive mood.

Replying to a query, he said the current situation did not call for army deployment.