Upazila polls today: CEC issues warnings against irregularities
Measures have been taken to make sure ministers and MPs cannot interfere on the polling day, he said
All preparations have been taken to hold the first phase of the upazila election freely and impartially, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, issuing warnings against any irregularities.
"Extensive efforts are being made to prevent undue influence in the local elections. Measures have been taken to make sure the ministers and MPs cannot interfere on the polling day," he said during a press briefing at the Election Commission office in the capital yesterday.
"We will be vigilant on the polling day. We will monitor the overall situation centrally, and immediate actions will be taken if any complaints are received," Awal said.
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Elections will be held in 140 out of 495 upazilas in the first phase today, with 22 upazilas using electronic voting machines (EVMs). Voting will commence at 8am and continue till 4pm.
To guarantee an uninterrupted, impartial, and fair election, the CEC facilitated discussions between division and district-level commissions. They also introduced a step-by-step polling system to simplify law enforcement deployment and patrolling.
Initially, 152 upazilas were scheduled for the first phase, but due to various reasons, 13 were excluded, leaving 139 for today's elections.
A total of 1,635 candidates are competing, with 570 for chairman, 625 for vice-chairman, and 440 for female vice-chairman positions.
Notably, in five upazilas, all candidates were elected unopposed, including 8 chairmen, 10 vice-chairmen, and 10 female vice-chairmen.
To ensure security and discipline during voting, nearly 1,60,000 members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Forces have been deployed, alongside 418 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) stationed nationwide to maintain law and order and ensure a fair and peaceful election.
Taking into account the area size, voter numbers, and significance of polling centres, the Election Commission (EC) opted to deploy two to four platoons of BGB in each upazila.
Coastal guards are stationed in coastal upazilas, with two to four additional platoons assigned as needed in several upazilas based on the situation.
To maintain order at polling centres, each ordinary centre will have 17 personnel assigned, while significant centres will have 18. In hilly areas, there will be a minimum of 19 personnel at ordinary centres and 21 at significant ones.
The CEC expects cooperation from all parties for a smooth election, with a warning that law enforcement will intervene if disruptions occur. Steps have been taken, including discussions with candidates, to maintain integrity in the election process.
Addressing allegations and cancelling nominations have been part of the EC's efforts to prevent undue influence, as confirmed by Awal.
The commission remains committed to conducting an impartial election, irrespective of government or party influence, with measures in place to prevent irregularities and ensure transparency.
Despite the fervour surrounding local elections, the commission remains cautious, with Awal stressing the focus on organising fair competition among candidates rather than partisan divides.
