Staff Reporter :
Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan), a civil society platform working for good governance, has urged the Election Commission (EC) to take all possible steps to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations.
“We urge the Election Commission to take initiatives so that the candidates obey the electoral codes of conduct,” Sujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said while addressing a press conference at the Institution of Diploma Engineers at Kakrail in city on Saturday.
The organisation also called upon the EC to deploy army to maintain law and order during the polls, if necessary. Majumder said the EC will also have to take necessary steps to ensure that all participants maintain discipline during the city corporation polls. “All enlisted criminals should be arrested and all types of illegal arms should be recovered by the law enforcing agencies prior to the holding of the elections,” he said.
“The prevailing situation tells the story that the Election Commission was in a hurry to declare the schedule the Dhaka and Chittagong City Corporation polls. This hurry by the Commission has created unrest in people’s mind. At present, many candidates are either in jails or in hiding due to cases that were filed against them,” opined the organization.
Majumder urged the authorities concerned to grant bail to those who are now in jail in different cases but want to run the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls. He also asked all not to stop any candidate of BNP from holding elections.
The Sujan secretary urged the cabinet ministers and members of the parliament to stay away from using political influence by using the benefits of government. “They must also stop directly or indirectly influencing the results of a neutral election to their advantage.”
He demanded of the concerned authorities that the affidavit of electoral candidates be handed over in due time.
Sujan Chairman Hafizuddin Khan and central member Hamida Hossain were also present, among others.
