20,773 local observers approved to monitor election: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has approved 20,773 local observers to oversee the next parliamentary election slated for 7 January.

Of them, 517 observers got approval centrally while 20,256 at the field level, Shariful Alam, director (public relations) of the commission, said on Thursday.

The EC gave the approval according to the relevant law, he said.

The central election observers can collect their identity cards and stickers for vehicles from the EC Secretariat, while others have to collect cards and stickers from the offices of the returning officers, he said.

A committee will be formed with the returning officers and assistant returning officers, and they will provide the cards and stickers after proper examination following guidelines, Shariful said.

An election observer from approved organisations should submit their attested copies of the SSC or its equivalent examinations, one passport size and another stamp-size photo, and an application form to the returning officers and the assistant returning officers.

After scrutiny, the returning officers and the assistant returning officers will make a list of valid observers as per the guidelines and provide identity cards and stickers.

No one will be allowed to hand it over to others, and if any observer is found involved in any political party or is appointed as a polling agent by the local election agents or campaign committees, no card will be issued by appointing him as an observer, said the EC official.

No one other than an authorised observer can travel in a vehicle with a sticker reading “Election Commission Observer,” he added.

No stickers will be issued for motorbikes.