Staff Reporter :
Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana emphasized the critical importance of the electoral system for the preservation of democracy during a view exchange program on Thursday.
“If the electoral system is destroyed, there will be no democracy in the country,” she stated.
Addressing returning and assistant returning officers, law enforcement agencies, election-related officials, and chairman candidates ahead of the third and fourth phases of the upazila parishad elections, held at the Naogaon DC office auditorium, Sultana highlighted the Election Commission’s (EC) commitment to organizing elections that are free, fair, participatory, and acceptable to all.
“Considering the importance of democracy, the EC has tried its best to organize all elections in a manner that is free, fair, participatory, and acceptable to all,” she said.
Rashida Sultana noted that the EC is striving to create a favorable environment for voters, enabling them to cast their votes without fear and free from violence.
She pointed out that the first and second phases of the sixth upazila parishad elections concluded peacefully, and efforts are underway to ensure that the upcoming third and fourth phases are even more peaceful and violence-free.
“We are trying to organize forthcoming third and fourth phase polls more peacefully and violence-free, so that common people can say that this Election Commission can conduct good elections,” she remarked.
Sultana also stressed that the EC does not operate with the objective of making anyone a winner, as evidenced by its directives to administration and law enforcement agencies. She urged candidates to adhere to the electoral code of conduct, avoid rudeness, and refrain from hate speech during their campaigns.
The EC commissioner called on candidates to foster a voter-friendly environment to encourage voter turnout.
She assured that any complaints reported to the commission would be promptly investigated and addressed. Additionally, she instructed election-related officials to perform their duties impartially to prevent any allegations of misconduct.
The view exchange program was chaired by Naogaon Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Golam Maola. Other notable attendees included Rajshahi Divisional Additional Commissioner Imtiaz Hossain, Rajshahi Range Additional DIG Bijoy Basak, Naogaon Superintendent of Police (SP) Md. Rashidul Haque, and Rajshahi Regional Election Officer Delwar Hossain.
