Dhaka: Election commissioner Kabita Khanam yesterday said the Election Commission (EC) will hold an acceptable poll, rather than a fully fair election, which could not be dubbed as questionable by anyone. “The example of a fully fair poll can't be found in anywhere in the world. Certainly, it's not going to take place in Bangladesh. The commission will hold an acceptable election that can't be questioned by anyone,” she said. Kabita was addressing the assistant returning officers of Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions at the Election Bhaban in the capital. She said the commission did not want to hold a questionable election.
“It’s always difficult to hold a fully fair election. Any poll should be held by keeping good terms with all. A fair election does not depend on the commission only. It’s everyone's responsibility. The EC wants everyone's cooperation for holding a fair election,” she also said. “The election wind is blowing over the country. This wind should not be turned into inclement weather. The commission directs the assistant returning officers to will perform their duties properly to maintain a congenial environment during the poll,” she added.
“This EC doesn't want to hold a questionable election. It has tried to arrange field visits during each election. The previous commissions did not visit the field during general elections,” she observed. Drawing attention to the assistant returning officers, Kabita said: “You will play a neutral role in election. Treat all the candidates equally and make a level playing field. Don’t be judgemental.” She asked the officers to remain careful while
talking to the media so that no confusion arises during the election. She also asked them to follow the electoral code of conduct strictly. “The commission will not spare anybody for any lapse of duty,” she warned. EC secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told the officers: “The responsibility of holding a poll doesn’t fall upon everybody. The polls will be held on December 30. It’ll be a competitive election. Play your proper role in it.”
About removing the materials relating to election campaigns, Helal Uddin said: “There are banners and posters relating to election campaigns in different parts of the country. They should be removed by November 18.”
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday sought EC’s intervention in the matter of their leaders and activists being arrested in fictitious cases ahead of the election. The party sent a letter, signed by its secretary general Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir, to chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda in this regard. “I seek your intervention to take necessary steps for the unconditional release and withdrawal of fictitious cases against party leaders and activists,” it says.
The letter states that politically motivated cases are being filed against the party leaders and workers to harass them over the last few years.
In the letter, Fakhrul also alleged that law enforcers are creating obstacles to the path of BNP nomination-seekers to prevent them from reaching the party headquarters. The police have torn the nomination papers of some of the nomination-seekers in the name of searching them, he said.
As many as 60–70 partymen were arrested on Thursday alone, he added.
The BNP leader said such arrests raised questions about the next election. It’ll also create doubt among people about the EC’s neutrality, he added.
At least 472 BNP leaders and workers have been arrested from the party’s Naya Paltan party office and across the country since the announcement of schedule on November 8, the letter mentions. This is the first time that the BNP has sent a letter to the commission to provide a list of the arrested partymen.
Earlier on Wednesday, after a meeting between the EC and the Jatiya Oikyafront, Fakrul told reporters that the EC had sought the list of the BNP men who were arrested in false and fabricated cases.
