Public transports like local buses or regular route buses and private cars will be allowed for movement on the voting day so that voters can go to the polling centers to cast their votes easily, said senior secretary of the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry Mostafizur Rahman on Tuesday.
He said this while talking to reporters after attending the concluding ceremony of a training programme of executive magistrates as a special guest at Bangabandhu International conference centre.
However, the movement of microbus, motorbike and speedboat will be restricted on that day, he said.
Notifications will be issued by the ministries concerned soon, said Mostafizur.
People need a transport to go to the polling stations and the transports which are used regularly for transporting people will be allowed this year, he said.
“If we restrict transport movement then how voters will go to the polling centres? In Dhaka, if we impose restriction on private cars, will any person go to the polling station? No one would go.” he said.
Urging the executive magistrates, the senior secretary said “We have brought some changes.”
The government has announced a three-day nationwide ban on motorcycles in order to maintain law and order during the January 7 elections.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a circular in this regard on December 22.
Besides, a ban will be imposed on the movement of taxicabs, microbuses, pickups, trucks, launches, and engine-driven boats (except those plying on specific routes) in the voting areas from January 6 midnight to January 7 midnight.
However, the ban will not be applicable on national highways.
The directives will not apply to candidates, law enforcement agencies, administration, authorised observers, and election agents.
But authorized election observers agents must use stickers provided by the Election Commission, reads the circular.
MSH
