Excellent preparations for Rangpur-3 by-election: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda today said necessary preparations have been progressing excellently to hold the by-election in Rangpur-3 seat slated for October 5 in a free, fair and transparent manner, reports BSS.
“A festive mood is prevailing in Rangpur-3 seat without any possibility of untoward incident during the by-poll as officials and authorities concerned are working with utmost dedication and sincerity,” he said.
The CEC made these observations while answering to questions asked by local journalists after attending a views-exchange meeting held at conference room of the Deputy Commissioner as the chief guest.
The district administration organised the event titled “The Law and Order Affairs Views-exchange Meeting on the Election in the Vacant 21 Rangpur-3 Parliamentary Constituency” with Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan in the chair.
Senior Secretary to the Secretariat of Bangladesh Election Commission Md. Alamgir Hossain was present as special guest.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Alim Mahmud, Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Additional Deputy Inspector General for Rangpur Range Police Md. Iqbal Hossain and Police Super Biplob Kumar Sarker and other high-raking civil and police officials were present.
Rangpur Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer for Rangpur-3 by-poll GM Sahatab Uddin, high officials of different intelligence organisations, BGB, Ansar-VDP and officials concerned involved with conducing the by-poll attended the event.
While answering to questions, the CEC highly appreciated the roles of officials and authorities concerned for ensuring better management without any fault so far in conducting the by-poll in Rangpur-3 seat.
“We will use electronic voting machines (EVMs) at all booths in Rangpur-3 by-poll. Use of EVMs is a tested method that was adopted in many other elections, including in Bogra by-poll,” he said.
“The Election Commission is advancing ahead aiming at using EVMs in all elections in future to ensure completely free, fair, transparent and credible elections in the country,’ he said.
Answering to another question, the CEC said there might be mechanical faults while conducting polls using EVMs.
“We have taken alternative measures to face any such situation to smoothly conduct the by-poll in Rangpur-3 seat,” he and asked journalists to monitor the process of conducting the by-election using EVMs in the seat.
The CEC said polling will be suspended if irregularities were reported and proved at any polling centre during the by-poll in Rangpur-3 seat and stern legal actions would be taken against responsible people.
Expressing his deep gratitude to the media for creating a congenial atmosphere through their objective reporting for the Rangpur-3 by-poll like, the CEC called upon them to inspire common voters to go to polling centres and cast their votes.
