Tough action against rule breakers: CEC

Mayor and ward councillor candidates of Gazipur city polls yesterday demanded that law and order be maintained centring the elections so that people could vote in a festive mood and without intimidation.

They made the demand during a views-exchange meeting with the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners at Bangataj Auditorium in Gazipur.

CEC KM Nurul Huda, meanwhile, warned about taking tough action against those responsible for irregularities in the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls scheduled for Tuesday.

“The administration is making all-out efforts to hold the GCC polls peacefully and transparently … Tough action will be taken if the elections are not held in a free and fair manner,” he told a press conference at Gazipur district administration auditorium.

Huda had held a meeting there with officials responsible for maintaining law and order during the polls.

In the views-exchanging meeting, no senior Awami League leader accompanied AL's mayor candidate Jahangir Alam while his rival candidate from the BNP, Hasan Uddin Sarker, had several senior BNP leaders by his side.

Jahangir alleged that a vested quarter was trying to make the GCC polls questionable by making false and fabricated allegations.

“The Election Commission and law enforcers should remain alert so that no one can get any benefit by spreading rumours. We want a free and fair election on June 26. We want to celebrate the election,” he said.

BNP's Hasan alleged that he complained to the commission about colour poster (which the electoral rules do not allow) of the ruling party candidate but the commission did not take any action. 

“Let's come together, all the citizens of Gazipur, to create history by holding a free and fair election,” Hasan said.

Islami Front-nominated mayor candidate Jalal Uddin said a congenial atmosphere should be created so that voters could cast their votes without any fear.

The CEC in the meeting told the candidates to send polling agents to every centre after giving them necessary training so that the polling agents do not leave the centre before vote counting ends.

Election commissioners Rafiqul Islam, Mahbub Talukder, Kabita Khanam, Brig Gen (retd) Shahdat Hossain Chowdhury, and EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed attended the meeting.

GCC polls Returning Officer Md Rakib Uddin, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Dewan Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Md Harun-ur-Rashid, and Gazipur District Election Officer Md Tarifuzzaman attended the   meeting.

Huda said, “We hope that the election will be held peacefully and it will be acceptable and credible to all … Voters will be able to cast their votes freely to elect their chosen candidates.”

He also expressed his satisfaction over the preparation for maintaining law and order during the polls.

The CEC said, “We have discussed the role of the law enforcement agencies and the administration in the June 26 election.”

The CEC said the army would not be deployed and electronic voting machines (EVM) would be used at six voting centres.

About the BNP-backed mayor candidate's allegation of violation of the electoral code, the CEC said the party has to be specific on the issue.

Ruhul Amin of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Fazlul Haque Minar of Islami Oikya Jote, Nasir Uddin of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and independent Farid Ahmed are also running for mayor.