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Gazipur By-Polls

CEC asks officials to work neutrally

RASHIDUL HASAN from Kapasia, Gazipur
The chief election commissioner yesterday warned all election officials that none would be spared if anyone showed "reluctance" in discharging their duties during the Gazipur-4 (Kapasia) by-polls slated for September 30.
“I am directing all election officials, including members of the law enforcement agencies, to carry out their duties sincerely and neutrally so that none can threaten voters or exercise muscle power,” CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said while addressing a views exchange meeting with the three aspiring candidates of the by- polls.
The Election Returning Office of Kapasia organised the meeting at the Upazila Parishad auditorium with the Gazipur deputy commissioner in the chair.
Simeen Hussain Rimi, daughter of the country's first prime minister Tajuddin Ahmad, is backed by the Awami League. Her uncle Afsaruddin
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Ahmad Khan is contesting for the parliamentary seat as an independent candidate while the third candidate, Asadullah Badal, is backed by the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).
Speaking at the discussion, both Afsaruddin and Asadullah brought allegations against Rimi saying that her activists were exercising muscle power against her two opponents.
They also claimed that the returning officer was not acting impartially.
“How can I expect a fair and neutral attitude from the election officials when none of my complaints against my archrival [Rimi] are addressed by the Election Returning Office?” asked Afsaruddin.
The two candidates said they would start observing the election atmosphere to see whether the EC was sincere about ensuring a levelplaying field for all the prospective candidates.
Brother of Tajuddin Ahmad, Afsaruddin also demanded that the EC deploy army in all the 64 identified risky voting centres. He also demanded the installation of close circuit cameras in all the centres and measures to stop harassment of his activists by Rimi's supporters.
Rimi at the meeting said some of her “over-enthusiastic supporters” might have been behind those incidents. “But those are not a big [issue!,” she said, and hoped that the elections would be fair.
In response to the allegations raised against him and his office, Returning Officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed said the complaints were forwarded to the election vigilance team. “They are investigating the complaints," he added.
The CEC said he hoped that the elections would be held in a free and fair manner.
In a written statement, Rakibuddin, however, did not say anything about the deployment of army personnel in the constituency. The JS seat fell vacant following the
resignation of ruling AL lawmaker Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj from parliament on July7.
Sohel Taj, brother of Rimi, earlier in 2009 resigned as the state minister for home affairs.
The CEC called upon the candidates and their supporters to comply with the electoral code of conduct and help the EC by maintaining a congenial atmosphere in the area.
Reassuring Afsaruddin and Asadullah, he said: “I want to assure you that the election commission will treat all the contesting candidates equally to ensure a level playingfield.”
Rakibuddin called upon the voters to come to the voting centres with cheerful minds and to cast their votes without any fear in favour of the candidates they preferred. “We will ensure foolproof protection for every single voter and if necessary, we will deploy additional security forces in all the voting centres.”
The CEC also said the commission was monitoring the election atmosphere very carefully since security was its prime concern. He noted that the EC had huge plans regarding ensuring security in the constituency.
“We are monitoring the overall situation everyday to see in which direction conditions are moving,” he said, adding that the EC would have video footage of the risky voting centres day of the election and monitor all happenings from Dhaka.
“In case of any violent incident or exercise of muscle power, we will stop voting instantly in those voting centres,” said the CEC.
The main opposition BNP is not contesting the by-polls.
Meanwhile, the BNP standing committee member and former MP from the constituency Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah told The Daily Star that he, on Friday, had sent letters to the party's union-level leaders asking them to ensure that no BNP supporters cast their votes.