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Ensure credible NCC polls

Aspirants, professionals tell Prothom Alo discussion

Staff Correspondent
Expressing concern over whether the December 22 Narayanganj City Corporation polls will be held in a free, fair and neutral manner, mayoral and councillor aspirants and various professionals at a discussion yesterday urged the Election Commission (EC) to take a tough stance to ensure a credible and acceptable election.
Bangla daily Prothom Alo organised the discussion, "Narayanganj City Corporation election: hope and concern", at Narayanganj Club. Joint Editor Sohrab Hossain conducted the programme while Adviser Kamal Hossain delivered the inaugural speech.
All four mayoral candidates, including AL nominated candidate Selina Hayat Ivy and BNP nominated Shakhawat Hossain Khan, said they did not want to see fraudulence and a one-sided election.
They also said if the polls were held in a free and fair way, they would accept the result whatever it may be.
Responding to Shakhawat's demand for army deployment, Ivy said the EC could do so if it deems it necessary fora free and fair polls. "I am not against the deployment," she added.
Shakhawat said the EC was yet to take any measure although it stated that all 174 polling centres were risky. "That is why we are con-
cemed—There are over 1,000 legal arms in Narayanganj but those arms are yet to be deposited," he added. Shakhawat also alleged that the EC was giving advantages to Ivy, the ruling party candidate. Masum Billah, a may-oral hopeful of Islami Andolon, said 250 people were killed in the union parishad elections, held under the present EC. "Untoward incidents might take place anytime as a level playingfield is yet to be ensured," he said.
Former Bangladesh Knitwear and Manufacturers Association president Fazlul Haque said the election atmosphere was good till now but the EC would have to maintain it.
Nagorik Committee President AB Siddique said although mayoral candidates were "good individuals", there might be some problems on the part of councillor candidates. "So, election commission will have to be tough, * he said.
Cultural personality Rafiur Rabbi said, "We are yet to get rid of local criminals and godfathers, that is why fear is prevailing among people. There are some candidates involved with the seven murder case and drug traders. If action was not taken against them, concern remains."
The mayoral candidate from Biblobi Workers Party, several councillor candidates and Narayanganj Press Club President Mahbubur Rahman also spoke. Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed at a press conference alleged that ruling party men were being appointed as presiding and polling officers and demanded that neutral persons be appointed instead. He also renewed BNP's demand for army deployment for fair balloting.