EC depends on govt to make national poll free and fair

Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) will have to rely on the government to make the 12th national elections free and fair.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said this during his opening speech at the exchange meeting with field level election officials held in the city’s EC Bhaban on Saturday.

“Government’s assistance is needed to make the upcoming parliamentary poll free and fair as we have to depend on the government’s support.

Besides, it is needed to strengthen our relationship with the government’s public administration, police and law enforcement agencies for holding the election peaceful,” the CEC said.

He also said, “We want to hear your (officials) experiences and we will openly discuss the extent of the election preparations, whether there is any deficiency or not.”

The EC repeatedly said that elections will free, fair, peaceful and participatory as the EC believes that voters will come in large numbers at the polling centres.

“We have repeatedly expressed that there will be no shortage of our efforts to ensure that the next general elections are free, fair, peaceful and festive. There will be no shortage of our sincerity.

We will try to make clear your (officials) responsibility in this regard. There will be clear instructions from our side regarding the fulfillment of your responsibilities,” Kazi Habibul Awal.

“The EC sought cooperation from field level officials involved in election process.

It is also instructed the field level officials that it would be ensured so that the candidates and political parties should follow the electoral code of conduct,” Additional Secretary of EC Ashok Kumar Debnath told reporters after the meeting.

He also said that the field level election officials suggested to send their requirements as soon as possible for holding the elections.

The election commissioners, EC secretary and former election officials attended the meeting.