Special Correspondent
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmad has directed law-enforcing agencies to take stern actions against offenders for any sort of anarchy during the polling time in three city corporation areas on April 28.
"I have directed the police, BGB, RAB and Ansar to do their best to help conduct elections to three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong, and asked the army to be ready as per directives of the Returning Officers in the polling areas, as we are oath-bound under the Constitution to ensure people's voting rights at any cost," CEC told a press briefing on Monday evening at the EC Media Centre.".
"The Commission will play an independent role in conducting the city polls," the CEC noted.
He asked the law-enforcing agencies to create a congenial atmosphere so that people can go to the voting centres in a festive mood and can cast their votes without any hassle.
"I'm assuring the voters of DNCC, DSCC and CCC of a peaceful atmosphere to go to the voting centers and select their Mayor and councillors without fear as we (EC) take measures to ensure security for free movement during the voting period; please go to the centres and cast your vote in a festive mood," the CEC said.
He urged the aspirants to show respect to each other, "You (aspirant) should not practice law in your own manner, just feel the opponent is like you?yes, you may not be happy with the result or you may get annoyed, please take legal steps, don't destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the society," he appealed.
Stating the EC's measures to keep the law and order at a tolerance level, the CEC said, "We engaged the police, BGB, RAB and Ansar in the field and asked the army to be ready at Dhaka, Mirpur and Postagola cantonments for DNCC, DSCC and for Chittagong they would stay in Halishahor, Dampara and Chittagong cantonments, thus they could rush immediately whenever Returning Officers ask them to extend support," Kazi Rakib said.
He said a large number of candidates are taking part in the elections. Without some negligible incidents, almost all candidates showed respect to the Election Code of Conduct, "I want to thank them and hope whatever the results are they would accept those like their election campaign," the CEC said.
Replying to a question about why the army will stay in cantonment, CEC said, "All necessary measures have been taken to hold the elections in a free and fair manner. Additional law enforcers and executive magistrates have been deployed and if the situation demands then they (army) will join as a striking fore."
He said that he was satisfied with the overall situation of the election, "I can reply to this question tomorrow night," the CEC remarked.