Bhola off limits to all outsiders
No outsiders even lawmakers and central leaders of political parties will be allowed to stay at Bhola-3 constituency after Thursday night, the last day of electoral campaign.
The decision, which is first its kind in country's electoral history, came at a meeting between the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda and two vital candidates--BNP's major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed and Awami League's Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon at Lalmohan upazila parishad.
Earlier at noon, the CEC at a meeting with officials at the district headquarters warned that voting will be suspended if any reports of irregularities are found at any centre on the election day.
Meanwhile, local administration started taking video footages on the campaign of both candidates as per the election commission's decision. A magistrate and five police personnel were also deployed with each candidate.
Some 300 Rab men were deployed in the constituency comprising Lalmohan and Tajumuddin upazila, and more one hundred will be deployed within a day or two.
Top officials of the administration and law enforcement agencies, former minister Tofail Ahmed and local influential BNP and AL leaders, upazila chairman and AL leader Nazrul Islam and Municipality Mayor and BNP leader Enayet Kabir, among others, were present in the meeting with the CEC.
“Outsiders will not be allowed in the constituency after April 22, the last date of the campaign. Only local people will stay here to elect their representative in a peaceful environment,” CEC Shamsul Huda, who is now in Bhola on two days visit, announced at the Lalmohan meeting.
Before attending the meeting with the candidates, he joined a public hearing at Dawri Bazar in Lalmohan though BNP candidate Hafiz informed the CEC that his supporters could not attend the hearing as the meeting venue was dominated by the ruling party men.
As per the proposal from the candidates, the CEC said he will make some frequent visit to some places today in Lalmohan and Tajumuddin.
Hafiz alleged that his workers are facing attacks by ruling party men every day and suggested the CEC to visit Kalma, Badarpur, Raichad and Dawri without any prior notice and talk to the people to know the real picture of the areas.
Tofail also supported the proposal, saying, “please visit any area as you wish but you (CEC) should also visit Lord Harding where the minority communities had faced brutality after 2001elections.”
During the two hours meeting, Hafiz, also a former minister, alleged that by election will not be free and fair as at least 1,000 outsiders backed by the ruling party came into the constituency.
He urged the CEC not to allow outsiders except 20-25 central leaders including lawmakers in the area.
He also asked the election commission not to allow any local election observer as he thinks that they will work in favour of the AL candidate.
To ensure a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election, he demanded Rab camp at each union under two upazilas.
Surprisingly Tofail Ahmed, chief election coordinator of AL candidate, agreed with all the points raised by Hafiz, saying that they will provide necessary cooperation to the commission to ensure a free and fair election.
“I agreed with Hafiz that no outsider should be allowed in the area after completing the time of conducting electoral campaign,” Tofail said, adding that outsiders including central leaders are always trying to create problem in election and that is why they should be kept away from the poll area.
After Tofail's speech Hafiz retracted from his stance, saying that a few leaders should be allowed otherwise it would be disadvantageous for opposition.
In reply, CEC said outsiders will not be able to help you at all so why they should be allowed but Hafiz said that a few leaders should be allowed but they will have to stay outside the polling centres.
Tofail said Hafiz himself alleged that AL brought many outsiders and that is why they think outsiders should not be allowed but he [Hafiz] now is advocating for a few outsiders, it's not fair at all. “No outsider should be allowed during election,” he added.
Hafiz demanded a Rab camp for each union, which was supported by Tofail. “We are ready to implement any direction given by the EC,” a Rab official said in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Hafiz last night at a press conference at his Lalmohon residence alleged that the ruling party activists attacked his campaigners that injured at least 10, when the CEC was visiting Bhola.
The EC with the help of government is going to stage a 'drama' in the name of by-election, he also said.
CEC WITH GOVT OFFICIALS
At a meeting with government officials, CEC Shamsul Huda asked them to perform their electoral duties properly during the Bhola-3 by-election scheduled for April 24.
“If anyone acts as a party cadre during the election, he or she will have to suffer for it,” the CEC said at the view exchange meeting at the district headquarters.
He also urged the officials for taking steps so that the voters can easily come to the polling centres and return home safely after casting their votes.
Huda said there is no agenda of the Election Commission except holding a fair election.
He said nobody except the local residents and authorised election-related personnel would be allowed in polling centres on the day of election.
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