All stage is set to hold December 30 municipalities elections in a free, fair and impartial manner.
Election Commission (EC) claimed that they have no lapse to present an acceptable and fair election before the nations. The electoral materials already reached at 15 respective municipalities in Chittagong region including 10 in Chittagong district yesterday.
The EC officials said they have already received transparent ballot boxes and completed training programmes for 3,920 electoral officials.
Chittagong region election officer Abdul Baten told the media that most of the polls related materials including adequate indelible ink, rubber stamps, packaging and other accessories also reached respective returning officers.
“We are well aware of the time and demand; and our day to day situation is improving; election commission and other concerned organizations have finalized the total arrangement to conduct the polls as per aspirations of the people,” Abdul Baten said. He said officials engaged in electoral process are working relentlessly under the supervision of Election Commission (EC) secretariat to complete all necessary arrangements for presenting an impartial and acceptable election to all.
He said one platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BDR) will be taken position at each municipality with nearly 7,000 members of law enforcing agencies.
The BGB, RAB and police will be deployed as striking force under the directives of four executive magistrates each pourshava, the source added. He also said that with every striking force there will be a magistrate and a total of 62 executive magistrates will be deployed in 15 poursabhas in the region.
Abdul Baten said, in each of the important polling centres, there will be on duty 20 members of Ansars and police.
He hoped that the voters will come to the polling centres without fear and cast their votes for their chosen candidates and return home safely. Baten said overall polls atmosphere in the field is excellent and satisfactory till to date as there is no major allegation against flouting of electoral rules and regulations.
Mohammad Hafij Akter, Superintendent of Chittagong District police said they have taken four tires security measures to ensure law and order on polling day. He ruled out any possibility of untoward incident during post and pre election period as the law and order situation in the port city has significantly improved following the vigorous anti-crime drives and recovery of illegal arms and ammunition by law enforcers.According to local EC office, a total of 4, 07 215 voters will exercise their right of Franchise on the polls, slated for December 30. Meanwhile, all election campaign ended from 12 midnight of Monday. A total of 209 presiding officers, 1243 assistant presiding officers and 2,468 polling officers will perform their duties during the polls.
As many as 55 mayoral candidates, 741 councilors including 125 female (reserved) councilors are contesting in the polls for 15 municipalities in Chittagong region.
