DHAKA, Jan 30, 2020 (BSS) – Co-chairman of Awami League (AL) National Election Conducting Committee HT Imam today said the overall situation of the two Dhaka city corporations’ elections is good.
“It (the good situation) has been possible due to our cooperation,” he said, replying to a question from journalists at Nirbachon Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area after holding a meeting with the Election Commission (EC).
“We have requested the EC to keep watch so that other countries, envoys or election monitors cannot do any excess over the election going beyond the rules and regulations of the country”.
Noting that in the last election, the ambassador of a particular country entered the polling booth with camera, HT Imam said, “Such kind of incident should not take place in the city polls. We show due respect to the envoys. Like Bangladesh, no country shows such hospitality to them. But, it does not mean that they will take opportunity of it and do excess”.
Bangladesh can now implement large projects with its own finance, he said, adding: “After attaining this height, our expectation is that others (nations) should abide by the changes we have made to the democratic rituals and election system”.
Criticizing the BNP’s remark of employing guards at the voting centers, HT Imam said, “Who has given them the authority of employing guards? No political party can do it.”
He said BNP is doing two works from the begging of the election process — one is that they are saying that fair election will not be held under this government and another is that they are trying to humiliate the EC.
Pointing that masterminds of the arson attacks in 2014-15 have taken shelter in different areas of the city, HT Imam underscored the need for keeping them under surveillance so that the law and order cannot deteriorate.
HT Imam said when BNP sees the sign of defeat in the polls, they either say – “We are leaving now. Election will not be free and fir” or they speaks about terrorist acts.
He underpinned the need for taking measures so that such opportunity could not be created in this election.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda presided over the meeting with the AL delegation. Election Commissioners (ECs) Mahbub Talukder, Md Rafiqul Islam, Begum Kabita Khanam and Brigadier General (Retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, AL Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Subhan Golap, Central Working Committee Members ABM Riazul Kabir Kawser and Sanjida Khanam were present, among others.