Rangpur attack won’t sway city polls: CEC

The attack on Hindu community at Harkali Thakurpara village of Rangpur will not sway the Rangpur City Corporation Election, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said today.

He came up with the remark after holding a meeting with law enforcers at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka over the upcoming Rangpur City Corporation polls.

“All sorts of steps will be taken to hold a free, fair and acceptable election,” he said adding that there is nothing to worry about the atmosphere of polls.

Huda said all the candidates will get equal opportunity and it would be ensured that voters can cast their votes without any fear. “Congenial atmosphere will be created for all the candidates.”

Asked about the deployment of army in the polls, the CEC said the issue was not discussed at the meeting as no one proposed for it.

Huda said more than 3,500 members of different law enforcing agencies including police, Rab, APBN and Ansar will be deployed in the district during the polls scheduled to be held on December 21.

Protesting a Facebook post, hundreds of zealots attacked Thakurpara village in Rangpur on the afternoon of November 10. They torched 11 Hindu houses, vandalised many others and looted valuables from there.

A man was killed and about 20 others were injured after police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells to bring the situation under control.