Election 2008

Hired NGO observers in Pabna

28 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Pabna

A total of 3,0349 observers engaged by 11 NGOs, will observe today's national election in Pabna. All the 11 NGOs got he permission from the local election office but many of them have hired non-registered NGOs for supplying the manpower who will work as observers, sources said. Most of the people hired by the non-registered NGOs are from different professions, including some from Islami Bank, the sources said. The NGOs include, Risda Bangladesh, GKS, Amwab, Initiative for Peace, Ananya Samaj Kallyan Shangshtha, Nongor, Odhikar, BAMAK and SSAF. Among them, Initiative for Peace, BAMAK and Nongor will work as mobile observers. The number of observers is still far less than required, election officials said. At least two observers from two NGOs are to be deployed in each booth, other sources said. They said hiring people other than NGO workers as election observers is unlawful. Asked about this, Additional Deputy Commissioner Md. Sajahan said the NGOs in their reports said all the observers on their lists are their officials. It is difficult to verify whether they are NGO officials or hired people, he said. Over 600 polling centers have been readied for the election, to be conducted by 600 presiding officers, 2914 assistant presiding officers and 5824 polling officers.