Tackle use of black money

Many candidates of Comilla City Corporation polls yesterday alleged that black money is being distributed among voters by their opponents.
They were also critical of law enforcement agencies' failure to recover illegal arms in the city.
Few of them have even complained against their opponents of collecting national identity card of voters in exchange for money ahead of January 5 election.
The allegations came out at a view exchange meeting between Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda and the mayor and the councillor candidates held at Comilla Town Hall.
Two leading mayoral aspirants Afzal Khan and Monirul Hoque Sakku were absent from the meeting. Khan's son Masud Parvez and Sakku's election coordinator Atiqul Islam represented them.
A number of councillor candidates including Golam Zilani and Mizanur Rahman drew attention of the CEC to the use of black money.
In reply to queries of the candidates, the CEC said that there are tendencies to distribute money among voters on the night before the voting day.
“Police, Rab and BGB will remain alert to check distribution of black money. Outsiders will not be allowed in the area two days before the election,” he said.
Later at a meeting with district administration officials, Huda said election commission has achieved a lot of success but expected results did not come in the case of black money.
“Please do your best to prevent use of black money,” he urged the officials.
While talking to locals and candidates at the Town Hall, the CEC urged people to elect good people as their representatives in the upcoming polls.
“Comilla election can be a role model of a free and fair voting. Public expectation has to be reflected through election,” he observed.
Shahnewaz, a councillor candidate of ward-10, alleged that one of his opponents is collecting national identity card of voters in exchange for money.
“It is a serious crime. Submit specific allegation, then we will take tougher actions,” the CEC said.
Masud Parvez Imran, son of ruling party-backed candidate Afzal Khan, said a showdown of arms took place during a factional clash of district unit Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal at a conference last year. But surprisingly, police could not recover a single arms till now.
Dissident Awami League mayor candidate Anisur Rahman Mithu alleged that he was threatened by an influential quarter.
Many candidates also raised questions about the use of electronic voting machine (EVM).
But the CEC ruled out any confusion about it, saying, “EVM is a mistakefree counting system. There is no possibility of mistake or cancellation of votes. Many people who have no idea about the device are raising objections to it.”
Those who can use mobile phone will be able to cast votes using EVM, he said.
“We have requested the lawmakers not to make frequent visits to polling centres. They [lawmakers] will not find any scope to influence voters. They will have to leave the area after casting their votes,” Huda said, adding that close-circuit camera will be installed at every polling centre.
The commission has no candidate in the election, and there is no doubt that the election will be held in a free and fair manner, the CEC said.
Deputy Commissioner Rejaul Ahsan, Returning Officer Abdul Baten and Police Super Mokhlesur Rahman, among others, were present in both the meetings.