Ministers, MPs cannot influence voting: CEC

418 BGB platoons deployed ahead of 1st phase

FE Team | Published: May 08, 2024 00:08:06

Chief Election Commi-ssioner Kazi Habibul Awal said on Tuesday said that ministers and member of parliament (MPs) cannot influence the upazila council elections, reports UNB.
Election Commission (EC) will monitor centrally whether they (minister, MPs) are trying to control the polls or not, the CEC said a press briefing held at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital on the EC's preparation to hold the first phase of sixth upazila council election.
If their interference are detected by the EC, stern action will be taken immediately, he added.
When asked about the participation of the relatives of ministers, MPs in the polls, CEC Awal said," The EC is not in trouble in this regard. Rather the political will is evident here."
The CEC said they have succeeded to prevent ministers, MPs from influencing the elections. "Few of them (ministers, MPs) are still staying in their constituencies. The EC asked them not to interfere in the elections."
Replying to a query over non-participation of political parties in the upazila parishad elections, Habibul Awal said, "This year's election is not being held with party symbol. The Election Commission does not see who belongs to which party, who is the candidate of which party. The Election Commission sees the candidates. It is not the responsibility of the Election Commission to see who came to the election and who did not."
On an average, four candidates are participating in each upazila in this election and so the election is being held in a competitive manner, he said.
When asked whether he sees any difference between January 7 election and tomorrow's upazila council election, CEC Awal said January 7 was parliament election and it is local body polls further adding that upazila council election is more competitive than parliamentary polls.
Meanwhile, a total of 418 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to maintain law and order situation ahead of the first phase of Upazila council Election tomorrow in 150 upazilas across the country.
According to a BGB media release, signed by its Public Relations Officer Md Shariful Islam, the members of the paramilitary force will remain deployed till May 10.
Under 'In Aid to the Civil Power'', the BGB personnel will perform duty as mobile and striking force to assist the local civil administration to hold a free, fair and peaceful election, it reads.
As per the EC's plan, Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) will be used in 22 upazila council polls in the first phase, 24 in second phase, 21 in third phase, and two in the fourth phase.