Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) will take actions against the candidates of city polls if they have incorporated false information in their affidavits.
“Those who submitted their affidavits with false information will not be spared. Actions will surely be taken against them. The EC will take action whenever the information will come to its notice, even after the polls,” said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.
Speaking at a view exchange meeting on Monday, he warned that the EC won’t tolerate any irregularity in the three city corporations’ elections to be held on April 28. They won’t allow any unwanted intervention in polling centres on the voting day. Fair poll is their top priority, he said.
The CEC held the view exchange meeting with the mayor and the councillor candidates of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) at the Krishibid Institution in the capital city. Alongside the DSCC’s mayor and councillor candidates, the Election Commissioners, the high ranking civil and the police officials were also present at the meeting.
Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said, “All the necessary measures have been taken to hold the city elections in free and fair manner”. He directed the law enforcers not to harass anyone without any specific charge of allegations. He also directed the polling officers to perform their duties neutrally.
About the demand for army deployment, he said that the decision in this regard would be taken after a meeting with law enforcement agencies on April 19. He reiterated that the EC would do everything in arranging a free, fair and credible election in the three cities. He said that polling agents of the candidates, journalists and observers would remain present in the polling centres at the time of the vote counting.
He requested all cooperation from the candidates in stopping the use of black money and muscle power. The CEC said, “We want this bad culture to go. Cooperate with us by informing us about the incidents of the use of black money and muscle power. We must take actions.”
He also urged all the candidates to help create a congenial situation so that voters can exercise their franchise without fear.
