'EC will take steps to bring female voters to polling centres'

Election Commissioner Kabita Khanam said all necessary measures will be taken to ensure the presence of remarkable number of female voters to cast their votes in the 11th national election scheduled to be held on December 30, report agencies.

"The election commission will remain alert to make sure safe environment for women during the polling," she said.

The EC commissioner made the remarks while speaking at the inaugural programme of a two-day workshop on 'Gender and Election' organised by UNDP in Rajshahi city on Tuesday.

When asked about the cancellation of nomination papers, Kabita Khanam said all concerned deputy commissioners have been asked to give away the certified copies to those candidates by Tuesday. It is to be noted that 53 nomination papers have been filed from Rajshahi. Of them a total of 23 applications have been cancelled after scrutiny.