CEC talks tough on anomalies

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday directed polling officers and law enforcers to take action against those involved in irregularities during the voting today.

"If any candidate or his supporters try to commit irregularities during voting, polls officials will take stern action against them," he told reporters at the media centre of the EC secretariat.

He hoped the voting would be festive. He also warned polling officers and law enforcers of action if anyone of them got involved in anomalies.

"I am instructing polling officers and law enforcers to perform their electoral duties neutrally as per the law. The Election Commission will not tolerate any irregularities and slackness in enforcing the law."

About media access to polling centres, Rakibuddin said journalists with accreditation cards from the EC and returning officers will be allowed in the centres to cover the elections without disturbing the voting process.

"We've directed top officials of law enforcement agencies not to obstruct journalists from entering polling stations," he noted.

He sought cooperation from all, especially from the political parties, candidates and the media, to hold the elections in a fair and peaceful manner.

He called upon the voters to go to the polling stations without any fear and cast votes for the candidates of their choice.

Apart from some stray incidents of violence, everybody conducted electioneering following the electoral code of conduct. Actions were taken against those who violated rules, claimed the CEC.

He told newsmen that the commission issued warnings to seven lawmakers and show-cause notices to many people for violating electoral law. Mobile courts fined 191 people over Tk 10 lakh and jailed four others for the same offence.

Law enforcers and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. Executive and judicial magistrates were working to check any violation of electoral rules, said the EC chief.