EC requests project DD's removal

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday requested the public administration ministry to withdraw an EC project's deputy director while a three-member probe body has been formed to submit in the next three working days a report on Wednesday's assault on two journalists.

"We have already sent a letter to the ministry...as he (Abdul Bari) is an officer of that ministry and was working with us on deputation," EC Secretary Sirazul Islam told journalists at his office.

"We will get detailed information about the incident after getting the probe report. Then, we will take further steps," he added.

"He is a senior officer. He should have taken necessary steps to tackle any untoward situation if any chaos was created between journalists and office staff. He has failed to do this," said Sirazul.

Meanwhile, Ain o Salish Kendra in a statement condemned the assault and demanded necessary government steps.

GM Mostafizul Alam and Ripu Ahmed, reporter and cameraperson respectively of Channel 24, were interviewing people when staff at the EC's National Identity Registration Wing in the capital's Agargaon assaulted them.

The duo said the attack was launched at the directive of Abdul Bari, a deputy director of the EC's Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services project.

Bari directed the staff to snatch their video camera and cellphones claiming journalists required permission to go there for news reports, they alleged.