Bangladesh
UP Elections | Violence Rampant electoral violence cannot be stopped, says CEC; Voting in the fourth phase at 840 UP on December 23
Dhaka, November 11: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda has said that electoral violence cannot be prevented by implementing door-to-door surveillance. He told reporters after the 89th meeting of the commission at the election building in Agargaon on Wednesday evening that violence could not be stopped by house-to-house, neighborhood-to-neighborhood police patrols and the only way to prevent this is to show tolerance and adherence to the code of conduct for those who participate in elections and those who are involved.
Meanwhile, in the fourth phase of the ongoing Union Parishad elections, polling will be held in 840 Union Parishads on December 23. EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the schedule at the media center of the Election Commission building in the capital's Agargaon on Wednesday (November 10) afternoon.
The EC secretary said that the last day for submission of nomination papers for the fourth phase is November 25, selection on 29 November and appeals from November 30 to December 2. Appeal disposal will take place from December 3 to 5. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 6, and symbol allocation December 7. He said that in this phase, EVMs would be used in 33 UPs.
Earlier, the EC had announced the schedule of UP polls in three stages. In the first phase, voting has been completed in 369 UPs. In the second phase, polling will be held on November 11 in 848 and in the third phase in 1003 UP on November 28.
Regarding election deaths and violence, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) said, “We have appointed police and magistrates. They are performing their duties. In particular, I believe that they are playing a significant role in maintaining law and order. These incidents happen without the knowledge of the law enforcement agencies, it happens in their absence. It's such a big election, with thousands of people participating."
"I have said in the first place that the only way to maintain law and order in elections is to show tolerance to those who are involved in voting," he said. "Therefore, its responsibility cannot be given to the administration or the law enforcement agencies or the Election Commission. There is no chance to say that they are responsible."
The Chief Election Commissioner said that many incidents have taken place in the area. The Kazis, Khans, Chowdhurys and Talukdars are quarreling. There are clashes on both sides of the areas.
