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whenever anyone asks them to leave.”

The CEC told the polling agents to ask for assistance from presiding officers and members of law enforcement if they were threatened or driven out.

Returning officers will take steps if they receive allegations, he said, adding “We will stop voting if the situation in a centre goes beyond control.”

At the briefing, he, however, said the voter turnout till then was not satisfactory and hoped that it would pick up soon.

The CEC expressed his satisfaction over the overall election situation.

Former election commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Shakhawat Hossain told The Daily Star that being a CEC, Huda should not make such comments.

“What is he implying by this? Will polling agents remain in the polling stations through a show of force? Then what is the role of EC?” he wondered.

The constitution empowers the Election Commission (EC) to do anything and everything to ensure a free and fair election.

It is constitutionally oath-bound to ensure free and fair elections to the office of President of the Republic, and to Jatiya Sangsad and local government bodies.

The EC, according to experts, must then work to create a congenial voting atmosphere, where such needs to resort to “strength” and put up “resistance” should not even be a question.