Dhaka: Election Commission (EC) Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed on Wednesday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cannot inaugurate any development project or lay the foundation stone of any until the results of the upcoming general election are announced.

‘As per the electoral code of conduct, persons enjoying government privileges, prime minister as VVIP, ministers, MPs, deputy leader and others can’t inaugurate any development project and lay the foundation stone of any and make any donation and assistance during the election time,’ he said while talking to reporters at his office at the Nirbachan Bhaban, reports the UNB.

The EC secretary said the EC will ensure the level-playing field before the allocation of election symbols to the candidates for holding the upcoming general election in a free, fair and credible manner.

He said they will sit in a special meeting on Thursday with the senior officials of law enforcement agencies on the law-and-order situation during the election. ‘During the meeting, various instructions will be given to keep the situation peaceful before and after the election and on the voting day across the country,’ he said.

Besides, some important decisions, including steps to create a pre-election peaceful environment, enforce the electoral code of conduct and take a security plan for polling stations on the election day, will be taken at the meeting so that all the candidates can get equal opportunities for their election campaign, Helal said.

He also said adequate policemen will be provided so that executive magistrates can conduct mobile court drives smoothly to enforce the electoral code of conduct.

There will be instructions to intensify drives to recover illegal firearms, ensure security of minority groups, and returning and assistant returning officers, make sure that women voters go to polling centres, provide security when election materials will be sent to polling centres and provide police protection for executive and judicial magistrates, the EC secretary added.

He said Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and four other commissioners will attend the meeting where Inspector General of Police (IGP), public safety division secretary of the Home Ministry, all metropolitan police commissioners, deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and superintendents of police (SPs) will be present.

Replying to a query, he said special attention will be given to maintain peace and discipline in frontier and remote areas. ‘Separate instructions will also be given so that militant groups can’t raise their heads on the eve of the election.’