EC committed to ensuring voting rights for all: CEC

Staff Reporter :
Terming elections the lifeblood of democracy,Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Friday said his commission wanted to ensure that nothing disrupts voters from exercising their right to franchise during the upcoming national polls.

“We want to see voters being able to vote without any disruption. If any untoward incident takes place during the polls, it will question our neutrality,”the CEC said.

While inaugurating a two-day training programme in the capital’s Electoral Training Institute, he also urged the divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and regional election officers to perform their duties to make the elections free, fair and peaceful.

At the same programme, Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman said the schedule for the 12th national election may be announced in a week.
“The election is nearing. Schedule for polls might be announced by next week,” the commissioner said.

“The whole nation is talking about elections now. People from abroad are also interested in our national polls. Many countries and foreign organisations will send election observers,” he added.

“You have to realise the importance of this election. If you need to exercise power while performing election duties, do that.

But first you have to understand the importance of election, why it is held, why the public will vote and other aspects of it from a sense of responsibility, not with power,”the CEC told the DCs and SPs attending the training programme.

“The president also wants a fair election. I cannot do that, you can,” Awal told the participants at the training programme.

“Questions are often raised about the past. However, I don’t believe in dwelling on the past because we cannot change it.

Learning from the past, we aim to present a beautiful, free, fair, and festive election that will serve as an example for future generations,” said another Election Commissioner, Brigadier General (Retd.) Ahsan Habib Khan, at the event.

Moreover, he mentioned that the present days are not the same. “Every moment, every second, we are under scrutiny. Everything is visible now. I always say that media persons work as my eyes. Those with mobile phones are also involved in such activities.”

While urging election officials to be impartial, Election Commissioner Rashida said, “Whenever we lose impartiality, questions arise, and anger brews among everyone, including the people and the candidates. This anger should not be created. You should treat everyone equally with sincerity.”

Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said, “You all know how to conduct elections. We also know how to hold elections. If there is any gap in our knowledge, it can be discussed.”

EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam urged attendees to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them during the elections. “Voters should be able to cast their votes themselves, for whomever they want-this must be ensured,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, the political stalemate shows no signs of ending amid the consecutive blockades called by opposition parties ahead of the polls. Neither the ruling Awami League nor the opposition BNP are softening their positions before the national elections.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed on Wednesday that one of their leaders was killed and 515 others were arrested in the last 24 hours, from Tuesday afternoon till Wednesday afternoon.

He further stated that 12 people, including a journalist, have been killed across the country since 28 October, and 9,466 activists have been arrested.

The Awami League is ignoring the international community, human rights organisations, and even the United Nations to stay in power, he added.