We will be strict in ensuring free and fair polls: CEC
The presiding officers have strict instructions to suspend the elections anytime, if polling environment is violated
The Election Commission (EC) will be strict in ensuring free and fair elections, said Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in Lakhsmipur today.
The presiding officers have been given firm instructions to suspend the elections anytime if the polling environment is violated, he said while talking to reporters in a press briefing at the Deputy Commissioner's office.
Union, municipality or parliamentary elections will be suspended if anything untoward emerges, he said, adding, "No miscreants will be allowed to spoil or dispute the elections."
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The CEC also thanked the EC officials who are working amid the risks posed by Covid-19 and said, "It would been better if BNP had participated in the polls, but I don't know why they didn't.
"The Election Commission is responsible for management of the election but who will be the candidates and which party will participate, these are political decisions; the EC has nothing to do with it," Huda said.
For Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), voters need to rely on presiding and polling officers, he said, adding that, "Voters must trust them; it's not possible that someone will cast the vote of another voter."
EC IDEA Project Director Brigadier General Abul Kashem Md Fazlul Kader, Joint Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan, Deputy Commissioner Md Anowar Hosain Akand amd Superintendent of district police AEM Kamruzzaman, among others, were present at the briefing.
On 3 March, the EC announced to hold by-polls to Lakshmipur-2 constituency, polls to 371 UPs and 11 municipalities on 11 April.
On 1 April, the commission postponed all elections due to the developing Covid-19 situation and later decided to hold the by-polls amid Covid-19 due to constitutional obligations.
