Election Commission wants UNOs, police station chiefs' transfer before polls

The OCs who are in the same station for more than six months will be transferred to other places

The Election Commission wants to move some police station chiefs and chief executives of Upazila administrators to other places before the Jan 7 elections.

The commission sent a letter to the home ministry, asking for a proposal for the transfer of the officers-in-charge or OCs by Dec 5, who have been in the same place for more than six months, said EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath on Friday.

The Upazila chief executives, or UNOs, who are at the same place for more than a year, will need to be transferred following the EC’s order, according to a letter to the public administration ministry after a meeting on Thursday.

Currently, the UNOs are serving as the assistant returning officers for the 12th parliamentary election.

In a recent meeting, it was agreed that the police station chiefs shall be transferred in phases to ensure elections are held without the influence of local politicians on the police.

The commission is also looking into complaints against some OCs to uphold fairness in balloting.

EC Secretary Jahangir Alam said the home ministry will follow the ommission's instructions with regard to these changes.

Speaking about the transfer of UNOs, he said: "We need to make realistic changes. I'll share more information from the office tomorrow."

After the election schedule is announced, the commission can approve moving officials.