Act neutrally: CEC
Calling upon the law enforcement agencies to act neutrally, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda has asked them not to harass innocent people ahead of Chattogram City Corporation election, scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
However, amid the ongoing tense situation over the growing violence among Awami League rebel candidates, the CEC said, "There is no risk and voters are secured. The election will be free and fair."
"If there is any allegation of criminal offense against anyone, I have told officials to bring them to book... but do not harass the innocent," he said while talking to the media after holding a views-exchange with election officials and law enforcement agencies yesterday.
The meeting was held at Chattogram Circuit House in port city.
Regarding BNP's allegations of raid, arrest and intimidation by police, the CEC said, "We do not have any such report. Police can raid houses of those accused in criminal cases with arrest warrants."
About BNP's demand for deploying army on the election day, he said there is no need to deploy army as they are satisfied with measures taken by the law enforcement agencies.
Earlier in the meeting, the CEC said, "The election should start with a contest but should not end with violence. Life is more valuable than election. Lives must not be lost in clashes and conflicts."
To CCC polls candidates, the CEC said, "Competition cannot get out of hand. Lives of some people have been lost centring election. This cannot continue."
He thanked the CCC mayor and councillor candidates for making the election "festive".
Urging election officials to treat candidates as just candidates rather than being influenced by the political party or community they belong to, the CEC said, "It is your duty to give legal assistance to all the candidates."
He also called upon the candidates to abide by the electoral code of conduct.
The CEC said around 35 complaints lodged with the commission centring the election have been disposed of.
Presided over by Chattogram Divisional Commissioner ABM Azad, EC senior secretary Md Alamgir was also present at the meeting as special guest.
NO GENERAL HOLIDAY ON POLLS DAY
There will be no general holiday on the day of the election on January 27, according to the Election Commission.
The EC issued a circular in this regard on Saturday, said Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, returning officer of CCC polls. He said there will be no restriction on public transport movement.
When asked about the reason, Hasanuzzaman said if general holiday is announced, many voters may go out of the city. "If voters stay in the city, turnout will increase," he said.
Moreover, if it is declared, traders and businesspeople will suffer too, he said.
410 POLLING STATIONS "RISKY"
According to police, 410 polling stations out of 723 are "risky". Of the polling stations, 12 stations are situated in Hathazari upazila, which is out of Chattogram Metropolitan Police's jurisdiction.
CMP sources said the risky polling stations are situated under 20 wards of CCC where police are on high alert to avoid any kind of untoward situation. Besides, law enforcers have chalked out four-tier security measures for the election, they said.
Marking the risky centers "important", CMP Deputy Commissioner Abdul Warish said, "A team of six armed police personnel and 12 Ansar members will be deployed at important centres while four police and 12 Ansar members at regular centers."
Around 8,000 police personnel will be deployed across the city and around 1,500 are on stand by for any emergency during the polls, he said.
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