Bangladesh
Religious Conflict Taking threat of communal conflict seriously: CEC
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, 11 October 2023: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said, "There have been religious or communal conflicts and violence around elections many times in Bangladesh. We have taken the fear of communal conflicts around elections very seriously."
He said this in reference to the memorandum given to the CEC on behalf of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council at the election building on Wednesday, October 11, fearing communal conflict in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Rana Dasgupta, General Secretary of Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council, gave the memorandum.
CEC said, "They still fear that such communal conflict or violence may happen in the future. They have appealed to us to take the matter into consideration and do what needs to be done from our side. We have taken the matter very seriously. We have also said that, The matter will be looked into by the law and order forces. But when the matter is related to the election, that is our concern. We will inform the government, the DC, SPs of the government, the Ministry of Home Affairs who are responsible for it, through letters, the center of the election in the country. So that there is no communal conflict or violence."
Qazi Habibul Awal further said, "We will strictly warn them, this is never desirable. It can never be civilized behavior. It is inhumane. We never condone such inhumanity. We have also requested them that all concerned Meet with them and express your apprehensions. Till 15 days after the elections, we have some control over the law and order forces. We will keep an eye on it. Whether the law and order forces are to be used post-election or not, to maintain the communal harmony of the country, communal violence, conflict so that If not - it is their responsibility to ensure it. If it is not, they will bear the responsibility."
