Bangladesh
CEC If necessary, polling will be stopped across country: CEC
Dhaka, Oct 27: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said that if the irregularities in the 12th National Assembly elections are not controlled, the polling will be stopped in the entire country if necessary.
He said this in the concluding speech of the dialogue organized under the title 'Twelfth Parliament Election: Role of Media, Expectations of the Nation' at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon of the capital on Thursday.
The CEC said that if the irregularities in the national elections cannot be controlled, the voting of the entire country will be stopped if necessary. The help of all concerned is needed to ensure that the polls are not disrupted.
Kazi Habibul Awal said that if the irregularities cannot be controlled on the polling day, the presiding officer should stop the polling and leave the centre. Failure to stop voting will also be considered a criminal offence.
The Chief Election Commissioner said, "I can still personally say that the election environment is not entirely favorable. But this does not mean that I will not choose. I sail the boat with the current. I have to steer the boat, even if it's adverse. He said, I can still personally say that the electoral environment is not completely favorable. But this does not mean that I will not choose. I sail the boat with the current. I have to steer the boat, even if it's adverse."
CEC said in a welcome speech at the beginning of a workshop with media editors on Thursday morning, we are very sincere in resolving any crisis. Our expectations were there from the beginning. But the favorable environment for the election has not yet been created. Our point is, what we want is a sincere environment to be favorable. That's why we are constantly calling everyone, we are having a dialogue. I have given semi-official letters to those who do not want to come to the polls. But I didn't get a response.
He also said that the political strategy of the political parties is their own matter. They may have their own strategies. We will not practice injustice in it.
EC organized a workshop with media editors on Thursday. CEC also sent an idea letter along with the invitation letter sent to the guests. It has been said there, "We have continued our efforts to gain the trust of the people in an acceptable election program by overcoming the mistrust of some political parties in the media about the government and the commission regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections."
However, the favorable environment expected for free, fair, participatory and festive elections has not yet materialized.
