EC asked to ensure candidates' security

A number of mayoral and councillor aspirants of Dhaka South City Corporation yesterday demanded the Election Commission take effective measures to ensure their security, saying they have been facing threats.

Without security of candidates, there cannot be a congenial atmosphere for free and fair polls, they said at a meeting organised by the returning officer of DSCC.

Around 35 candidates spoke at the event, held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh. Of them, around 20 expressed security concerns.

In response, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said all necessary measures have been taken to hold the elections in free and fair manner and the commission will not tolerate any irregularities.

He once again directed law enforcers to prevent harassment of candidates.

Abdus Salam, who attended the meeting on behalf of BNP-backed mayoral candidate Mirza Abbas, said, "We are in a state of panic. We want adequate security … we demand deployment of army."

However, he did not go into details.

Also yesterday, the High Court fixed that it will pass orders tomorrow on two bail petitions filed by Abbas in two vandalism and arson cases.

The court asked Attorney General Mahbubey Alam to make sure that Abbas is not harassed or arrested in the two cases until the orders are passed.

It also directed the accused not to conduct any election campaign and not to talk to the media before getting the orders on his bail petitions.

At yesterday's meeting, mayoral candidate Dilip Bhadra said he has received threats over phones. He did not say anything about the identities of the callers.

But talking to The Daily Star after the meeting, Bhadra alleged that it was ruling party men who have been threatening him as they think he might be an obstacle to the victory of AL-backed mayoral candidate.

Addressing the meet, mayoral aspirant Shaheen Khan said, "We are having difficulties in campaigning because of one particular party."

Mayoral aspirant Baharane Sultan Bahar urged the EC and law enforcers to ensure security of all candidates as many of them are being threatened and facing difficulties while conducting campaign.

Ismat Takir, a councillor aspirant of ward 5, alleged that criminals attacked him on Sunday during his campaign. Fearing such attacks again, he demanded adequate measures from the EC.

Over a dozen councillor aspirants, including Mansur Ali of ward 5, Nargis Mahatab of ward 6 (reserved) and Noor Jahan Begum of ward 7 (reserved), also spoke on security concerns.

Mayoral candidates Saifuddin Ahmed, Abdur Rahman and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury demanded deployment of army while Sayeed Khokon said he feels it won't be necessary.

"Many candidates claim that I am enjoying government facilities. But I want to request those critics to make any remark based on specific allegation," Khokon, AL-backed mayoral hopeful, also said.

About army deployment, the CEC said the decision would be finalised on April 19 at a law and order meeting.

Four election commissioners, top officials of government and police attended yesterday's meet.

Over 18 lakh voters of DSCC are entitled to elect 57 general ward councillors and 19 reserved ward councillors on April 28.

Dhaka metropolitan magistrates yesterday fined five councillor aspirants Tk 40,000 for violation of electoral code of conduct, according to EC sources.