No deployment of Army right now
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad exchanges views at a meeting with high officials including law enforcing agencies at its auditorium on the situation of Municipality election on Saturday.
SM Mizanur Rahman :
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed on Saturday ruled out the possibility of deploying army during the municipality elections claiming that a festive mood is prevailing across the country centering the polls.
“Being observed the overall situation across the country, we are not thinking about army deployment right now. The country’s overall situation is favourable for holding the upcoming municipality polls,” the CEC told journalists.
He came up with the remarks while talking to journalists after a three-hour long meeting with the high ups of different law enforcing agencies at Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management’s (BIAM) auditorium in the city.
As per the present schedule, elections to 234 municipalities out of the total 325 will be held on December 30. A total of 12,045 candidates — 923 mayoral, 8,589 general councillor and 2,533 women councillor contenders in reserved seats — are contesting the polls.
Based on law enforcement and intelligence agencies’ report, the CEC said, since the situation for holding a free, fair and credible election is
under control why the Election Commission (EC) should be concerned.
“All the mayor and councillor candidates are obeying the electoral code of conduct. A festive mood is prevailing across the country,” Kazi Rakibuddin said.
Home secretary, principal staff officer of armed forces, high ups of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard and different intelligence and deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of concerned districts were present in the meeting.
Besides, four election commissioners — Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, Md Jabed Ali and Md Shahnewaz — returning and assistant returning officers were also present.
The CEC added: “We have instructed the polling officials to take necessary steps against those candidates who are involved in violating code of conduct and report it to the commission.”
When asked about vulnerable polling centres, he said, like the previous times the EC will prepare a list on it just before few days of the polls.
“However, we have obtained a single list of vulnerable polling centre. Additional law enforcers will be deployed in those centres,” he added.
Replying to a query about violation of electoral code of conduct by ministers, lawmakers and candidates, the CEC said, “I hope that they (ministers, lawmakers and candidates) will obey the electoral code of conduct. We have already asked the returning officers to take immediate action against those who will violate the code of conduct.”
When contacted, Dr. Tofail Ahmed, a local government expert, said, people are still concerned over possible violence and bloodshed.
“Being experienced in the last upazila elections, local people apprehend that more cases of election-related violence would take place in different parts of the country, creating a sense of uncertainly among voters,” he said.
He said there are various kinds of election-related violence now taking place in the country.
“Apart from these, centering selection of party-backed candidates’ intra-party feud has also been intensified among the leaders and workers of ruling Awami League and major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” he said.
Meanwhile, ministers, lawmakers and candidates are said to have violated the municipal polls code of conduct.
The Commission had promised various steps to prevent any flouting of the electoral code of conduct, but its inaction has seemingly disappointed some EC Secretariat officials too.
According to EC secretariat officials, the code of conduct is being violated continuously. With MPs and the individuals who enjoy government facilities paying no heed to restrictions on their participation in campaigns, the EC has now changed its position.
Allegations of code of conduct violations started coming in right after the candidates began their official campaigns with symbols on December 14, the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed on Saturday ruled out the possibility of deploying army during the municipality elections claiming that a festive mood is prevailing across the country centering the polls.
“Being observed the overall situation across the country, we are not thinking about army deployment right now. The country’s overall situation is favourable for holding the upcoming municipality polls,” the CEC told journalists.
He came up with the remarks while talking to journalists after a three-hour long meeting with the high ups of different law enforcing agencies at Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management’s (BIAM) auditorium in the city.
As per the present schedule, elections to 234 municipalities out of the total 325 will be held on December 30. A total of 12,045 candidates — 923 mayoral, 8,589 general councillor and 2,533 women councillor contenders in reserved seats — are contesting the polls.
Based on law enforcement and intelligence agencies’ report, the CEC said, since the situation for holding a free, fair and credible election is
under control why the Election Commission (EC) should be concerned.
“All the mayor and councillor candidates are obeying the electoral code of conduct. A festive mood is prevailing across the country,” Kazi Rakibuddin said.
Home secretary, principal staff officer of armed forces, high ups of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard and different intelligence and deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of concerned districts were present in the meeting.
Besides, four election commissioners — Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, Md Jabed Ali and Md Shahnewaz — returning and assistant returning officers were also present.
The CEC added: “We have instructed the polling officials to take necessary steps against those candidates who are involved in violating code of conduct and report it to the commission.”
When asked about vulnerable polling centres, he said, like the previous times the EC will prepare a list on it just before few days of the polls.
“However, we have obtained a single list of vulnerable polling centre. Additional law enforcers will be deployed in those centres,” he added.
Replying to a query about violation of electoral code of conduct by ministers, lawmakers and candidates, the CEC said, “I hope that they (ministers, lawmakers and candidates) will obey the electoral code of conduct. We have already asked the returning officers to take immediate action against those who will violate the code of conduct.”
When contacted, Dr. Tofail Ahmed, a local government expert, said, people are still concerned over possible violence and bloodshed.
“Being experienced in the last upazila elections, local people apprehend that more cases of election-related violence would take place in different parts of the country, creating a sense of uncertainly among voters,” he said.
He said there are various kinds of election-related violence now taking place in the country.
“Apart from these, centering selection of party-backed candidates’ intra-party feud has also been intensified among the leaders and workers of ruling Awami League and major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” he said.
Meanwhile, ministers, lawmakers and candidates are said to have violated the municipal polls code of conduct.
The Commission had promised various steps to prevent any flouting of the electoral code of conduct, but its inaction has seemingly disappointed some EC Secretariat officials too.
According to EC secretariat officials, the code of conduct is being violated continuously. With MPs and the individuals who enjoy government facilities paying no heed to restrictions on their participation in campaigns, the EC has now changed its position.
Allegations of code of conduct violations started coming in right after the candidates began their official campaigns with symbols on December 14, the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
