Don’t turn election contest into violence: CEC
Army will not be deployed in the Chattogram City Corporation election as armed police will be deployed during the polls.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda has urged the candidates contesting the Chattogram City Corporation elections, slated for 27 January, to be tolerant so that the contest does not turn into violence.
"We expect that there will be rivalry and competition in the election, but it will not end in violence. I will tell the candidates and their supporters that you will live in this society even after the election," KM Nurul Huda said on Sunday at a views-exchange meeting with the election officials and law enforcers ahead of the polls.
The meeting was held at the Chattogram Circuit House.
He also said, "No death is desired. Life is much more valuable than the vote. So, we have to be cautious so that no untoward incident occurs. Those who are contesting the election have to behave in a tolerant manner. If they do it sincerely, there is no possibility of violence."
Addressing the election officials, the CEC said, "A candidate's identity to you is that he is a candidate. His party, opinion, or his community is not his identity. It is your duty to provide assistance to all the candidates during their election campaign."
"If there is any complaint from the polling agents, you should listen to it sincerely. Everyone must be evaluated equally," he added.
Replying to the journalists' questions after the meeting, the chief election commissioner said, "The BNP candidate has demanded that the authority concerned deploy army troops during the polls, but there is no need to do that in the Chattogram City Corporation election. Armed police will be deployed during the polls. Moreover, one person cannot cast someone else's vote using electronic voting machines."
Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman, Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Anwar Hossain, Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Saleh Mohammad Tanvir, among others, were present at the meeting presided over by Chattogram Divisional Commissioner ABM Azad.