STAFF CORRESPONDENT

If ballot stuffing goes on inside a polling station, someone will take footage of it and the Election Commission’s neutrality would be questioned, said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal yesterday.

Speaking at the inauguration of a training session for polls officials, he urged top field-level administration and police officials to remain neutral while performing election duties.

“If you need to exercise your power for the sake of performing duties, do it.

“Voters should be able to cast their votes independently. That’s what we want to see,” he said.

Election commissioners also urged the officials to make sure no one is barred from exercising their voting rights.

The second round of the two-day training for divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, deputy inspectors general of police, superintendents of police, and regional election officers began at the Electoral Training Institute in the capital.

This training for divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, metropolitan police commissioners of Dhaka and Gazipur, DIGs of Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet ranges, DCs and SPs of Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Mymensingh and Narsingdi was slated for October 29-30. But it was deferred twice due to BNP-Jamaat’s progarmmes.

Habibul said the whole country is enthusiastic about the election. “It even got a global dimension. Countries around the world are interested in this election.”

DCs and SPs play an important role during elections and they have been instructed to work in a coordinated way, he added.

“The election is nearing. Schedule for the polls might be

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