Election Commissioner (EC) Rasheda Sultana said that the EC will take immediate action wherever there are complaints of irregularities, involving the security of the January 7 elections.
She said this while talking to reporters at EC Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon on Wednesday.
Rasheda Sultana said, “I think the election field is under our control. If you find any irregularities, you (journalists) take pictures, give evidence, we will take action immediately. Wherever there is irregularity, our action is there. Already there have been incidents like cancellation of candidature due to various reasons. You have seen earlier we also stopped voting in Gaibandha.”
She said, “All our arrangements are centering elections. Therefore, the army has been deployed from today to keep the election environment free and fair. Not only the army, but all the forces we have are now disciplined and improved.”
How will the polling atmosphere be - in response to questions from journalists, the election commissioner said, “I can say that the polling that is going on now will be festive and beautiful. In 1996, there was controversy about that election due to not having an acceptable election, so we don’t want to create any controversy in this election. We want to make elections acceptable to our people and the world.”
Rasheda Sultana said in response to the questions of the journalists that how will the presence of voters in the polling station be, “We have taken the issue of bringing the voters to the polling station seriously. That’s why we are promoting through different channels. Voters are the life of the
polling station, without voters the election will be lifeless. But from the information we are getting from various places, we are hopeful that many voters will come to the polling stations.”
“International pressure is not an issue, not a matter. There is no pressure from any side. But we have an assessment from the past, the election should not be postponed in any way. Let there be a fair election, which is recognized in all quarters,” said the election commissioner.
