A festive mood with enthusiasm of people is prevailing in the country centering 12th parliamentary election slated for January 7 next year. Therefore, all eyes are on the chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal-led election commission (EC) to see how they are going to present a free and fair poll to the nation.
The CEC has already expressed his firm determination to hold a free, fair and neutral parliamentary poll for protecting the democratic progress, economy and future of the country. The government has declared January 7 (Sunday) a general holiday for the national poll to allow the voters to cast their votes without any hassle on that day.
The commission started sending ballot papers to different districts of the country from Monday. Thirteen districts got ballot papers, postal ballot papers and necessary forms, and stamp pads on the first day.
The work of printing the ballot papers for the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections will be completed by tomorrow. So, the preparation of voting has been completed smoothly.
Apart from the members of police, Rapid Action battalion and intelligence agencies, a total of 1,151 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country, including the capital from Friday, to maintain law and order during poll. The BGB personnel will be working to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.
The EC will also deploy army across the Country on January 3 to beef up security and maintain law and order under control ahead of the national election. They will be in the field for eight days, till January 10.
The commission gave approval to 20,773 local observers from 84 organisations to monitor poll while around 180 foreign observers from 35 countries have applied to it. At least 10 foreign observers have received approval to observe the polls so far while the process for others is underway.
Countrymen will never
support BNP’s non-
cooperation movement.
When everything is going well and people are engaging in elections with festive mood, the BNP calls for non-cooperation movement. Although the BNP has been trying to enforce programmes one after another to thwart the national elections are not at all giving response to their Call.
It does mean countrymen will never support BNP’s non-cooperation movement. The EC is working for holding a peaceful and violence-free polls and the government is cooperating with the EC.
Candidates of different political parties and independent candidates along with their respective party men and supporters are going door to door to convince the people to vote in favour of them. However, BNP extended the ongoing mass contact and leaflet distribution programme until today to drum up public support in favour of the party’s call for boycotting the Januray-7 election.
We think country’s people should resist those who are creating anarchy.
Most of the BNP members are boycotting the elections. The BNP is being divided in different groups.
People of this country have turned from the BNP. And then the BNP took decision not to participate in the election and is continuously giving programme one after another to create unrest to foil the elections.
We want all from the entire world to come and see, and learn from Bangladesh as the government is committed to holding a free, fair and transparent election at any cost.
We hope the EC will take action against the persons who are involved in anti-poll activities. The commission has announced that they would take steps against anti-poll activities.
Therefore, the commission will have to execute its decision by taking action against the persons who are distributing leaflets and bringing out rallies against the election. Besides, the commission will have to take actions for breaching the electoral code of conduct. In different places across the country, some cases have been lodged with local police stations over conflicts between supporters of rival candidates.
