‘Agents must be strong’
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday said polling agents should have the strength to stay put at polling centres.
“The agents must have strength to persist…They shouldn’t leave whenever anyone asks,” the CEC said after a reporter drew his attention to allegations that polling agents of BNP-nominated mayor candidates were being driven out of centres.
Nurul Huda made the comment while briefing reporters after casting his vote around 11:30am at IES school and College in Uttara.
“We did not receive any direct complaints that agents are being driven out,” he said.
Asked whether polling agents should resist if they face difficulties, the CEC said, “They should. I think so…Primarily they should resist whenever anyone asks them to leave.”
The CEC told the polling agents to ask for assistance from presiding officers and members of law enforcement if they were threatened or driven out.
Returning officers will take steps if they receive allegations, he said, adding “We will stop voting if the situation in a centre goes beyond control.”
At the briefing, he, however, said the voter turnout till then was not satisfactory and hoped that it would pick up soon.
The CEC expressed his satisfaction over the overall election situation.
Former election commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Shakhawat Hossain told The Daily Star that being a CEC, Huda should not make such comments.
“What is he implying by this? Will polling agents remain in the polling stations through a show of force? Then what is the role of EC?” he wondered.
The constitution empowers the Election Commission (EC) to do anything and everything to ensure a free and fair election.
It is constitutionally oath-bound to ensure free and fair elections to the office of President of the Republic, and to Jatiya Sangsad and local government bodies.
The EC, according to experts, must then work to create a congenial voting atmosphere, where such needs to resort to “strength” and put up “resistance” should not even be a question.
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