Dhaka Bureau: Election Commissioner (EC) Rasheda Sultana has said that the security forces will take immediate action wherever there are allegations of irregularities in the next January 7 elections. He said this while talking to reporters at EC Bhawan in the capital’s Agargaon on Wednesday (January 3).
Rasheda Sultana also said, I think the election field is under our control. If you find any irregularities, you (journalists) take pictures and give evidence, and we will take action immediately. Wherever there is irregularity, our action is there. Already, there have been incidents like the cancellation of candidature due to various reasons. You have seen earlier that we also stopped voting in Gaibandha.
He said that all our arrangements revolve around elections. Therefore, the army has been brought down today to keep the election environment beautiful. Not only the army, but all the forces we have are now disciplined and improved.
How will the polling atmosphere be? In response to questions from journalists, the election commissioner said, “I can say that the polling that is going on now will be festive and beautiful.” In 1996, there was controversy about that election due to not having an acceptable election, so we don’t want to create any controversy in this election. We want to make elections acceptable to our people and the international community. It is our moral responsibility to make good choices. Looking at the media and newspapers, I think the government wants a free and fair election.
Rasheda Sultana said, in response to the questions of the journalists about how the presence of voters in the polling station will be, that we have taken the issue of bringing the voters to the polling station seriously. That’s why we are promoting through different channels. Voters are the lifeblood of the polling station; without voters, the election will be lifeless. But from the information we are getting from various places, we are hopeful that many voters will come to the polling stations.
In response to the question, How do you see the fact that a major party (BNP) did not come to the polls?, he said that it was their free will to not come to the polls for the parties. But that won’t stop the vote. And voting cannot be prevented in any way, and no sabotage can be done. If they do this, we have directed the law enforcement agencies to take appropriate action. But if all the parties came to the election, it would be a matter of relief and celebration. There is no denying that it is not so much now. However, the EC is committed to making the elections fair.
