EC’s missive to armed forces

The Election Commission (EC) has asked the Armed Forces Division to take all necessary measures to prevent violence in the fourth phase of the Upazila Parishad polls to be held at 91 Upazilas in 43 districts on Sunday.

EC officials said the Commission wrote to the Division on Saturday after they had received an e-mail from a ‘concerned’ Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Friday.

Ahmad, who is currently in the United States, had sent the e-mail two days ahead of the fourth round of the staggered local government body elections.

Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak on Saturday told reporters that the Armed Forces Division was ‘just reminded of their authority to take immediate preventive measures’.

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The Election Commission Secretariat also wrote to all the stake holders including the home secretary, inspector general of police and returning officials ahead of the fourth phase of polls.

It is widely feared that the fourth phase of the Upazila Parisahd polls would witness violence like in the third phase that saw more violence than the previous two phases.

BNP has also questioned the role of the Election Commission and accused it of being unfair to it. The party ahead of the third phase of the polls had even alleged that the government was trying to rig the polls.

Election Commissioner Mobarak said law enforcers have been asked to shoot at sight if they notice any attempt to snatch ballot box in the fourth phase of polls.

He said they would not let anybody get away with any act of violence. No leniency will be shown.

In the e-mail Ahmad also urged all field level election officials to try their level best to hold the polls smoothly on Sunday.

Mobarak said they contacted everyone concerned, including the armed forces, to keep the law and order under control during the polls.

Ahmad, who has been criticised by various quarters for going to the US in the middle of the Upazila Parishad polls, is expected to return to the country at the beginning of Apr.