Staff Reporter :
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Sunday said that showing of muscle power in Cumilla City Corporation (COCC) election will be useless.
“Elections are not war. So avoid doing from using combat tactics. Intimidation or show of force by any candidate in the COCC polls will be ineffective,” CEC said during a meeting with the COCC mayor and councillor candidates.
The CEC said that electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be used for voting and every polling centre would have CCTV cameras.
“The Election Commission will take strict action against any candidate caught violating the election rules, regardless of the source of the evidence,” the CEC said.
He said if it deemed necessary the commission might also postpone or cancel the polls or its results.
The police, Border Guard Bangladesh and magistrates deployed in the city had been asked to take action if any kind of violence was reported, he warned.
An estimated 105 polling stations can be set up in the city which may comprise 640 booths.
A total of 189 candidates collected nomination papers for the upcoming election.
Five candidates will participate in the polls for the office of mayor, 147 for councillor posts and 37 for general councillor posts.
On April 25, the Election Commission announced the polls schedule for the COCC as well as six municipalities and 135 union parishads – all to be held using EVMs.
