Polls To 5 Cities: JP doubtful of EC’s control over police

Expressing doubts whether the upcoming five city polls will be free and fair, Jatiya Party yesterday demanded the Election Commission have control over the police during the elections.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal assured the main opposition in parliament of trying to ensure the neutrality of the police.

The CEC was speaking to reporters after a meeting with a JP delegation at his office.

Awal said it will not be possible for the EC alone to hold a free and fair elections without the goodwill of the government and cooperation from the political parties and rival candidates.

He added that the JP delegation, led by party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, discussed the situation in the electoral areas.

"They have urged us to have control over the police…. In the elections to local bodies, candidates sometimes try to make sure that police act in their favour. We have told them that we will try to keep the police neutral," Awal said.

The CEC said that they have not faced any pressure from the government over any elections till now. Police also played a neutral role, he added.

"If they maintain such a neutral stance, it will be possible for the Election Commission to conduct elections in a better way."

Earlier, Mujibul told reporters that they were worried about whether the upcoming city polls would be free and fair.

He said it is the EC's responsibility to make sure that no political party can have influence on the elections. The commission should also have to ensure that no candidate can take any advantage by using the administration and the voters can exercise their franchise freely, the JP leader added.

He said they told the EC that the JP mayor candidate in Barishal city had sent a letter to the CEC alleging that the returning officer was working in favour of the nominee of a particular political party. "He [Jatiya Party candidate] sought withdrawal of the returning officer."

Mujibul also said that the ruling Awami League mayor nominee in Sylhet city was violating the electoral code of conduct by seeking votes even before the start of the electioneering. "The CEC has assured us that the matter will be taken care of."

The CEC said that many allegations of breaching the electoral code of conduct are raised, but the EC cannot take all those into consideration. What matters to the commission at the end of the day is how the election is held, he added.