UNB, Dhaka :
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Wednesday asked the law enforcers to ensure special security measures for the minority community during the staggered countrywide upazila elections, starting February 19.
He, however, said the law enforcing agencies have informed that there is no fear of violence during the 4th upazila elections unlike the January 5 parliamentary elections.
“We’ve directed the law enforcers to take special security measures for the members of minority community during the election so that they can go to the polling stations without fear and face no hindrance,” he told reporters after a meeting on security during the upazila elections.
The Election Commission held the meeting with top brasses of law enforcing agencies, with the CEC in the chair, at the NEC auditorium in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The CEC said that the members of the armed forces will be deployed two days ahead of the voting day – for five days – during the upazila elections.
Besides, other agencies including Police, BGB, Rab, Ansar & VDP, and Coastguard will maintain law and order in the election areas.
Rakibuddin hoped that the upazila elections will be held amid enthusiasm and in festive mood. “Nothing will be compromised for the sake of free and fair elections,” he said.
Asked why the upazila candidates’ affidavits have not been published on the EC’s website, the CEC said: “Upazila election is a local body polls. Affidavits have been hung in front of the offices of the returning officers concerned. If anyone wants, s/he can collect these.”
Replying to a query about the long overdue elections to bifurcated Dhaka City Corporation, he said the Election Commission gives reminders to the government frequently for all the elections, including that of bifurcated DCC, and the election will be held in due course.
Four election commissioners – Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, Abu Hafiz, Zabed Ali and Shah Nawaz, and EC secretary Dr Mohammad Sadik, IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, Director General of BGB Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed and other senior officials of various law enforcing agencies, Deputy Commissioners and Police Supers were present in the meeting.
