Editorial

Enforcement of electoral laws

EC should brook no infringement
With only three more days to go,  excitement is running high in all the four city corporation areas  over the upcoming polls. That is only expected and befitting as well. But alongside the heart-warming news are also coming not-so-pleasant reports on transgression of electoral codes of conducts by the candidates. Well-wishers and mentors of the mayoral candidates  including some upazila chairmen and MPs are reported to have been canvassing for the hopefuls using government vehicles in not a few instances. They are also alleged to have been  using government bungalows and circuit houses for the purpose. This is something for the election commission officials of the respective constituencies to take serious note of and act on. Earlier, in this column, we advised EC officials to show zero tolerance towards mayoral candidates found flouting electoral rules through advertising themselves in showy posters and billboards in all the city corporations. Now as partisan mentors of the mayoral candidates  appear to have joined the fray, the challenges are also high before the EC to see that electoral   codes of conduct are strictly observed by the candidates. The success of EC  in holding the city corporation elections in a free, fair, peaceful and credible  manner  will  go to prove its efficacy in meeting the still bigger challenge before it—holding of the upcoming general election. Hopefully, the EC will prove equal to its task.