DHAKA  – The Election Commission has asked the educational institutions to complete all examinations before December 10 to facilitate holding the 11th parliamentary elections smoothly, EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed today said.

“We asked the education boards, ministries and directorates to complete all examinations by December 10. The polls schedule will be announced within one week,” he told the reporters after emerging from an inter-ministerial meeting on election preparation at Nirabachan Bhaban in city’s Agargaon.

Ahmed said, “The commission has also asked the Local Government Division to remove all types of banners, festoons and posters related to polls from every constitutional area within one week of the declaration of the polls schedule.”

He said Bangladesh Bank and the Banking Divisions have been asked to submit the lists of loan defaulters to the returning officers ahead of the submission of nomination forms.

The EC secretary said the ministry concerned has decided to relax the obligation of submitting tax returns certificates with nomination papers. The candidates who have no the tax return and TIN certificates can submit their nomination forms without those, he added.

Ahmed said, “We also asked the Public Security Division to take necessary steps against terrorists, drug addicts and the persons who may create anarchy ahead of the polls and to seize illegal arms for holding the parliamentary elections in a peaceful manner.”

He said the EC has also asked the Public Administration Ministry to make the lists of executive magistrates who will be working during the polls.

Besides, Helaluddin Ahmed said, all educational boards, ministries and directorates have been asked to hold the all examinations by December 10 as the schools and other educational institutions will be used as voting centers and the teachers will work as polling officers.

“We also asked the school officials and the members of school managing committees to extend their cooperation in the polls activities,” he added.

The concerned authority has been asked to take necessary measures to reach the polling officials and all other equipments to 34 remote hilly centers by helicopter, Ahmed said.

Ahmed said the concerned authorities have also been asked to make easy the visa processing and other relevant works for the foreign poll observers.

Senior officials of 23 ministries and departments were present in the inter-ministerial meeting.