Campaign for by-polls ends
The Election Commission claims to have taken all-out measures to hold the Narayanganj-5 by-polls tomorrow fairly and peacefully amid fear of vote rigging and violence.
Jatiya Party-nominated candidate Selim Osman and independent candidate SM Akram completed their campaigns yesterday in the constituency that has 3.42 lakh voters.
More than 4,500 members of Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, Armed Police Battalion, police, Ansar and Coast Guard have been deployed in the constituency to maintain law and order.
"We have deployed a sufficient number of law enforcers there. We will remain vigilant and take stern action against those who will violate electoral laws," Election Commissioner Abu Hafiz told reporters at his office in the capital yesterday.
A public perception is prevailing in Narayanganj that Selim and his men will forcibly occupy polling stations and stuff ballot boxes.
Law enforcers, election officials and administration may work in favour of Selim, many voters said.
Expressing similar concern, independent candidate SM Akram earlier demanded that army be deployed for the sake of free and fair election.
EC rejected it, saying no such situation had been created, which required army deployment.
Meanwhile, an intelligence agency yesterday sent a list of around 40 government and non-government officers to EC with a suggestion that they should not be given election duty, as they were loyal to anti-government force.
EC then forwarded the letter to the returning officer, instructing him to take necessary steps based on the intelligence report, said EC officials.
Police consider 90 polling stations vulnerable out of 141 in Narayanganj-5.
SM Akram yesterday alleged that Selim and his supporters were threatening to occupy polling centres.
On the other hand, Selim claimed that Akram had made the allegations sensing his defeat.
Meanwhile, noted jurist Dr Kamal Hossain at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka urged all concerned to play the role of vigilant guard to ensure a free and fair election.
At the same function, Nagorik Oikyo Convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna demanded that law enforcers increase their patrols in the vulnerable areas.
All sorts of preparations have been completed for the election, said returning officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed.
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