With only a day left for the fifth Upazila Council polls on Mar 10, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huad admitted that the election atmosphere is gradually deteriorating.
“We formulate electoral code of conducts and laws. But situation goes out of control despite our stern actions. (Election) atmosphere is gradually deteriorating and it needs to be restored,” he said on Friday (Mar 8).
Speaking at an election officials’ training workshop in Dhaka, Huda said, “We will start using of the EVMs and then there will be no scope for vote rigging.”
Referring to political parties’ call to deploy army for polls, the CEC said, “Which country in the world posts army on polls-duty? Political parties, who will run the country, will join the election while people, who are the owner of the country, will cast their votes.
“We (Election Commission) will discharge our duties smoothly to hold a trouble-free election,” he said.
Instructing the election officials to conduct election in fair manner, the CEC said, “Partisan, ideology, nepotism, and political believes and identities will not be considerable in any circumstances.
“Polls will be transparent and there will be no secret in the (electoral) process except a secret room to cast ballots. All information relating to electoral process is open to all,” he added.
The CEC asked the election officials to be careful in carrying out their duties.
“Election won’t be acceptable to the people who will suffer defeat. On the other hand, polls will be acceptable to those who will win the race.
“Amid such win-defeat situation, you (election officials) will have to be careful so that there is no negligence in your duties,” said Huda.
Elections to as many as 492 Upazilas councils of the country will be conducted in five phases with the first phase is scheduled to be held on March 10, second phase on Mar 18, third on Mar 24, fourth on Ma 31 and the last fifth phase election on Jun 18.