EC to field observers in by-polls

The Election Commission (EC) deploys its own observers today in Habiganj-1 and Brahmanbaria-3 constituencies to ensure free and fair by-polls there on January 27.
As per the EC decision, 50 upazila election officers will start working as “silent observers” in the same number of union parishads of the two constituencies and report to the EC about the prevailing situation regularly.
In addition, a number of video cameras will be installed at different places on the polling day to identify the persons responsible for any untoward incidents, EC officials said.
The fresh spell of battle of ballots between Awami League and BNP comes following the just concluded municipal elections. The two constituencies fell vacant following the deaths of two incumbent AL lawmakers.
"We are posting silent observers to monitor the situation, and video cameras will be used so nobody can influence the by-polls by any means," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain told journalists at his office yesterday.
The EC yesterday briefed the upazila election officers who will be deployed today at its conference room about their duties.
They will remain posted until the polls are over, said Sakhawat Hossain.
Besides, the EC has decided to deploy two to three “silent observers” at each of the 13 municipalities where elections will be held also on January 27. They might begin working from two to three days before the polls.
The 13 municipalities are Parbatipur of Dinajpur; Magura, Jhalkathi and Char Fashion of Bhola; Madhabdi of Narsingdi; Jajira of Shariatpur; Madan of Netrokona; Madaripur and Daganbhuiyan of Feni; and Teknaf, Moheshkhali, Chokoria and Cox's Bazar sadar of Cox's Bazar.