February 27, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 25, 1423

DHAKA, Feb 25: Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) appears to be on another collision course with the government following its expression of dissatisfaction over the transfer of election officials during the ongoing Union Parishad (UP) polls.

In an oblique manner, the commission on Monday issued a note of caution that any hindrance to civil servants carrying out due responsibilities during the polls would be considered a “criminal offence” punishable under the existing law.

The EC statement came after the government recently transferred the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Rangpur and Police Superintendents (SPs) of Cox’s Bazar and Bogra districts. The EC earlier requested the government that civil servants engaged in conducting election duties not be transferred before the completion of polls.

At a meeting it was brought to the commission’s attention that despite its request the Manikganj DC had been recently transferred.