CEC asks law enforcers to resist use of force in vote

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad has asked the law-enforcers to resist ‘with double their power’ those who try to use force in the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations polls.

He gave the directive in a meeting with top officials of the law-enforcing agencies at the NEC auditorium in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Sunday, ahead of the Apr 28 elections.
 
After the meeting, he told reporters: “(Law-enforcing agencies) have to remain alert to prevent any untoward incident. I’ve asked them to resist with double the force those who take recourse to muscle power at poling centres.”
 
The CEC said law-enforcers had been asked to be ready for deployment ‘at the proper time’.
 
“After a review, the people concerned will let us know where, when and how they will be deployed and the number of personnel needed,” he added.
 
“In today’s meeting we heard the opinions of the law-enforcing agencies. The pre-election situation is good. We’ll take a decision after carefully considering all aspects.”
 

Ahmad said the commission would decide about the deployment of troops during polls in a day or two.

Four election commissioners, the EC secretary, officials of the home ministry, Armed Forces Division, police, BGB, RAB, Coastguards, Ansar-VDP and intelligence agencies, and returning officers were present at the meeting.

The CEC told reporters, “We’ve taken the three city corporation elections seriously. Highest security measures will be adopted. Interruption-free casting of votes will be ensured.”

Troops if necessary
 
Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said they would decide on army deployment shortly.
 
“Army is usually deployed a few days before (the polls). There is still enough time for that. A decision will be made tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or the following day,” he said.
 
Several quarters, including the BNP, are demanding army presence during the polls in the Dhaka north and south, and Chittagong city corporation polls.
 
Lull before the storm 
 
Though the CEC described the present situation as ‘good’, he expressed fears concerning law and order.
 
“Members of (law-enforcement) agencies said everything is going well. We told them to be alert; this is a lull before the storm. We won’t give any scope to (troublemakers),” he said.
 
Ahmed said the list of risky polling centres was being prepared.
 
Code violation complaints
 
The CEC said they were receiving complaints about code of conduct violations from candidates and different media and looking into them.
 
He said, “Broad complaints won’t work. Every specific written complaint will be looked into. The media have to publish news in an objective and proper.”