It is disappointing for the Election Commission that some of the major political parties are not taking part in the upcoming upazila elections, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said today.

The CEC said this while addressing as the chief guest at a training of trainers programme at the Election Training Institute in the capital's Agargaon.

But the chief election commissioner said he is optimistic that the elections would be competitive despite nonparticipation of the parties.

It is the local government election and this sort of elections usually sees stiff competitions as local people become the candidates, he said.

The CEC urged the trainers to act neutrally while discharging their duties during the elections.

If the trainers work for any particular party or individual, the commission will be tough with them, he said adding, “Nobody will be spared if found guilty”.   

“You have no party, no opinion. As officials of the republic, you are only accountable to the Constitution, laws and principles,” the CEC told the Election Commission officials.

UPAZILA POLLS SCHEDULE

The first phase of the five-phase upazila polls will be held in 87 upazilas on March 10, while 124 upazilas will go to polls in the second phase on March 18.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on February 14 announced the third phase upazila polls schedule, setting March 24 as the voting day.

Just days ahead of the 11th national elections, Election Commissioner Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury today said “situation is under control”.

He came up with the remark in response to a query by reporters at the Election Commission in Dhaka’s Agargaon this afternoon.

Shahadat’s comment comes a day after Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar expressed grave concern over the ongoing spate of violence ahead of the polls scheduled to be held on December 30.

Hoping for a free, fair and peaceful election, Shahadat said, “I admit that anxiety grew among people centering the election. I want to term it political heat”.

He said he did not think that the situation was deteriorating ahead of the polls.

WHAT DID ELECTION COMMISSIONER MAHBUB SAY YESTERDAY?

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder expressed grave concern over the recent incidents of violence.

Saying that violence and election cannot go hand in hand, he added,“If we cannot hold a peaceful election in a violence-free environment after 47 years of independence, the sacrifice of 30 lakh martyrs for independence and democracy will go in vain. We cannot allow this to happen.”

The Chief Election Commissioner’s fingerprint did not match with the server information when he tried to cast his vote at Uttara this morning.

CEC KM Nurul Huda had to then use his National ID card number to vote, as the first major Electronic Voting Machine (EVM-Only) polls are underway at both city corporations.

The CEC told The Daily Star that he cast his vote at 11:30am at IES School and College at Uttara.

“My fingerprint may not have matched as it was taken eight to nine years back. It could also not match if someone’s fingertips are sweaty or slightly wet,” he added.

“No one will go back home without casting his or her vote even if such a problem arises,” he said adding that there are three to four ways to cast votes.

Bangladesh government has opened a media centre at a luxury hotel in Dhaka to relay election information to journalists on the day of December 30 election.

Top officials of the information and foreign ministry were present at the launching of the media centre at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka in the morning.

Abdul Malek, secretary to Ministry of Information said, the centre will provide all types of information till December 31 midnight to foreign and local journalists and election observers.

Md Shahidul Haque, foreign affairs secretary, said two hundred foreign observers and 50 overseas journalists who will be catered information from the centre.

Besides, the centre will provide security and visa related necessary information as well as online facilities to the overseas journalists and election observers.

The election result provided by the EC will also be displayed through Bangladesh Television (BTV) at the media centre.  

Five officials and staffs of the information ministry will work at the media centre round the clock. The media centre will keep communication with the EC through two hot lines.