No compromise with any irregularity in UZ polls: CEC

Chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda ordered returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (ARO’s) to be alert against violence in the upcoming upazilla polls, reports BSS.

“You have to be on guard so that no violence takes place before, after and on the polling day. If any one of you thinks that the situation has gone out of hand, he can propose to halt the polling and the election commission will do that. But no compromise can be made with any irregularities,” he said.

The CEC said these while addressing the inaugural function of training workshop for RO’s and ARO’s at Electoral Training Institute (ETI) in capital’s Agargaon area.

“People will vote and elect their candidates of their choice. It’s not our duty to look for candidate’s party, religion or caste. Voters will elect the candidate, whomever they think qualified,” CEC Huda added.

The chief election commissioner further said the polling officials have to inspire the candidates to appoint agents in the polling stations, adding, “we face embarrassing situation for this all the time. You have to make sure that the agents can observe their duty without any fear.”

Presided over by EC secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, the programme was also attended by election commissioners Mahbub Talukdar, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and retired brigadier general Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, among others.