RANGPUR, Sept 30 (BSS): Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda today said excellent necessary preparations have been taken to hold the by-elections to Rangpur-3 parliamentary seat, slated for October 5, in a free, fair and transparent manner.
"A festive mood is prevailing in Rangpur-3 seat without any possibility of untoward incident happening during the voting as officials and authorities concerned are working with utmost dedication and sincerity," he said.
The CEC made these observations while answering to questions from local journalists after attending a view-exchange meeting held at conference room of the Deputy Commissioner as the chief guest.
The district administration organised the event titled "The Law and Order Affairs View-exchange Meeting on the Election in the Vacant 21 Rangpur-3 Parliamentary Constituency" with Deputy Commissioner Md Asib Ahsan in the chair.
Senior Secretary to the Secretariat of Bangladesh Election Commission Md Alamgir Hossain was present as special guest.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Alim Mahmud, Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Additional Deputy Inspector General for Rangpur Range Police Md. Iqbal Hossain and Police Super Biplob Kumar Sarker and other high-raking civil and police officials were present.
Rangpur Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer for Rangpur-3 by-poll GM Sahatab Uddin, high officials of different intelligence organisations, BGB, Ansar-VDP and officials concerned involved with conducing the by-poll attended the event.
While answering to questions, the CEC highly appreciated the roles of officials and authorities concerned for ensuring better management without any fault so far in conducting the by-polls to Rangpur-3 seat.
"We will use electronic voting machines (EVMs) at all booths in Rangpur-3 by-polls. Use of EVMs is a tested method that was adopted in many other elections, including in Bogra by-polls," he said.
"The Election Commission is advancing ahead aiming at using EVMs in all elections in future to ensure completely free, fair, transparent and credible elections in the country,' he said.
Answering to another question, the CEC said there might be mechanical faults while conducting polls using EVMs.
"We have taken alternative measures to face any such situation to smoothly conduct the by-polls in Rangpur-3 seat," he said and asked journalists to monitor the process of conducting the by-elections using EVMs in the seat.
