Manpower crisis blocks polls work in Barisal division
Posts of 4 of 6 district election officers and 26 of 40 upazila election officers vacant
Acute manpower crisis is hampering work in election offices in six districts in Barisal division.
This is affecting preparation for planned Jatiya Sangsad and local government elections, officials said.
Manirul Islam, Barisal district election officer who is also Deputy Election Commissioner in charge of Barisal division told The Daily Star yesterday that the crisis mounted as ten upazilas election officers were sacked after 1/11 for alleged irregularities in their recruitment.
Muhammad Hasan Uzzaman, district election officer in Bhola, said additional deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) are discharging election-related duties in absence of district and upazila election officers.
This greatly hampers work for the planned elections as they do it in addition to their daily administrative jobs, he said.
Manirul Islam, assistant election commissioner of district election commission office-2 is performing duty of district election commission office -1 since November 2006, with additional charges of deputy election commissioner in charge of Barisal division, sources said.
Post of additional deputy election commissioner for Barisal division is vacant for three years and the office runs with only an office assistant and a peon as 11 out of 13 sanctioned posts there are vacant.
Even stenographers and peons are performing duties of election officers at upazila offices in Barisal region, the sources said.
Besides, posts of four of six district election officers and 26 of 40 upazila election officers are vacant in Barisal division.
Stenographers are performing duties of upazila election officers in Babuganj, Hizla and Goiurnadi; while election offices at Uzirpur, Banaripara, Muladi, Mehendiganj, Agoiljhara have no official for performing duties, the sources said.
In Jhalakati district, posts of upazila election officers are vacant in Nalchiti and Kathalia, two out of four upazilas I the district.
In Pirojpur, post of district election officer is yet to be filled while those of upazila election officers are vacant in Nazirpur, Swarupkati, Zianagor and Bhandaria upazilas.
Stenographers and a peons are performing duties of upazila election officers in Nazirpur and Zia Nagor upazilas.
The post of Patuakhali district election officer is vacant for three years and a magistrate is discharging the duty.
Posts of upazila election officers are also vacant in Kalapara, Dumki, Dashmina and Baufal upazilas in Patuakhali.
In Barguna, the post of district election officer and upazila election officers in Barguna Sadr, Bamna, Amtali in the district are vacant.
In Bhola, posts of upazila elxtion officers are vacant in Borhanuddin, Lalmohan, Tajumuddin, Daulatkhan and Monpura upazilas.
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