Our Correspondent
CHATTOGRAM, Dec 18: The people are in a festive mood to cast their votes in the upcoming national parliamentary election in a free, fair and peaceful manner as the level playing field is already there.
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said this here today at a view-exchange meeting with the field level election officials, senior officials of the administration and members of the law and order under Chattogram Division.
Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retired) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed, Divisional Commissioner Abdul Mannan, senior officers of the armed forces in Chattogram, DIG of Chattogram Range, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers attended the meeting.
The meeting was held at International Convention Centre at city’s Kazir Dewri.
CEC Nurul Huda said over 3000 candidates filed nomination papers and more than 1800 of them are contesting the polls. With participation of all the political parties the election this year will be held in a festive mood which is already prevailing until today.
"There is the level playing field for all contestants throughout the country. How is it said that there is no level playing field," he said asking all concerned officials to perform their responsibilities maintaining neutrality towards all.
Regarding statement of Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder he said what he stated regarding the absence of level playing field is his personal statement and what he said is untrue.
Mahbub Talukder on Monday said there is no level playing field in the election scheduled for December 30. CEC's statement came within 24 hours of the statement made by Talukder.
Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed warned all election officials and members of the law and order agencies to be strictly vigilant against the Rohingya people taking part in the election.
"Keep watch so that no Rohingya man or woman can come out of their camps to cast vote for anybody. There is apprehension that the Rohingyas can be hired by somebody to cast votes. All officials including Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers have already been given directives from the EC in this regard," he said.
Regarding use of illegal and licensed arms he said all legal firearms except those of the MP candidates must be deposited to the nearby police stations by December 21. The Home Ministry's Public Security branch has been instructed to this end.
He instructed the election officials to keep on exchanging views with the candidates and inform them about the decisions of the EC. They will also exchange views with the law enforcement agency people on regular basis.
The EC Secretary urged the police to take prompt action against those who do not abide by the election rules without any delay and without waiting till the magistrates arrive to the scene so that the election atmosphere does not turn up worse.
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