EC asks law enforcers to ensure security of female, minority voters
Friday, 19 December 2008
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda Thursday directed the law enforcing agencies to ensure safety and security for female and minority voters at the polling centres on December 29, reports BSS.
"Make sure that female and minority voters could cast their votes quite fearlessly and there would be no lack of security for them," Dr Huda gave the directive while talking to the journalists after instructing the law enforcers at a meeting on law and order at National Economic Council (NEC) auditorium in the city Thursday.
The CEC said the EC is not considering any polling centre risky and assured that more law enforcers would be deployed wherever it would be necessary. "Groups of 14 law enforcers would be deployed in ordinary centres, while the number will be 18 in important centres," he said.
"Although there were clashes in many polling centres in the past, it has been ordered that no such incident takes place this time," he said adding that the EC would deploy army from December 20 for smooth holding of the December 29 parliamentary polls.
Dr Huda said the State of Emergency was already withdrawn and the army personnel would start leaving their barrack from December 18 and stay on duty at the field level until December 31.
"Special instructions have been conveyed to the border areas, immigration department and the customs department for an all-out safety and security during the post emergency period. Police and RAB have assured that the law and order is normal and fully under their control in the country, he said.
The CEC said that results of every polling centre would be published this time and the police personnel have been instructed to take immediate action against anyone if found violating the election code of conduct.
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Secretary of the EC Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Establishment Secretary Md Mosleh Uddin, Home Secretary Abdul Karim, IGP Noor Mohammad, Brigadier General Kazi Abdus Samad from the Armed Forces Division, Director General of BDR Major General Shakil Ahmed, Director General of Coastguard Commander Moksumul Quader, Director General of NSI Major Gen Monir, Director General of RAB Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed, DDG of Ansar VDP Brigadier Gen Mohammad Anisur Rahman and all divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, police supers and district election officers were present at the meeting.
"Make sure that female and minority voters could cast their votes quite fearlessly and there would be no lack of security for them," Dr Huda gave the directive while talking to the journalists after instructing the law enforcers at a meeting on law and order at National Economic Council (NEC) auditorium in the city Thursday.
The CEC said the EC is not considering any polling centre risky and assured that more law enforcers would be deployed wherever it would be necessary. "Groups of 14 law enforcers would be deployed in ordinary centres, while the number will be 18 in important centres," he said.
"Although there were clashes in many polling centres in the past, it has been ordered that no such incident takes place this time," he said adding that the EC would deploy army from December 20 for smooth holding of the December 29 parliamentary polls.
Dr Huda said the State of Emergency was already withdrawn and the army personnel would start leaving their barrack from December 18 and stay on duty at the field level until December 31.
"Special instructions have been conveyed to the border areas, immigration department and the customs department for an all-out safety and security during the post emergency period. Police and RAB have assured that the law and order is normal and fully under their control in the country, he said.
The CEC said that results of every polling centre would be published this time and the police personnel have been instructed to take immediate action against anyone if found violating the election code of conduct.
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Secretary of the EC Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Establishment Secretary Md Mosleh Uddin, Home Secretary Abdul Karim, IGP Noor Mohammad, Brigadier General Kazi Abdus Samad from the Armed Forces Division, Director General of BDR Major General Shakil Ahmed, Director General of Coastguard Commander Moksumul Quader, Director General of NSI Major Gen Monir, Director General of RAB Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed, DDG of Ansar VDP Brigadier Gen Mohammad Anisur Rahman and all divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, police supers and district election officers were present at the meeting.