EC Rafikul rules out any chance to question Sylhet city polls

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet: Election Commissioner Md Rafikul Islam has ruled out any chance to question Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) polls.

He said, “If there is no acceptable and lawful election, foreign powers, voters and media raise questions. This time, the Election Commission (EC) is committed to hold a free, fair and neutral polls in Sylhet city. Nobody will be given ancy chance to question Sylhet city polls.”

Urging candidates to follow election code of conduct, he also called upon the voters to go to the centres without any fear and cast their votes to their according to their choices.

The election commissioner said this at a views-exchange meeting with the aspirants at a city auditorium on Saturday.

He said that security will be maximised in the city ahead of the city corporation polls with the deployment of additional armed and unarmed members of Ansar, Rab, police and BGB.

“Stern action will be taken against members of law enforcement agencies if found his/her involvement in harassing any candidate,” he warned.
The election commissioner also expressed his satisfaction over the overall atmosphere in the polling areas adding, “It has to be maintained throughout.”

Earlier on July 9, the Election Commission instructed the law enforcing agencies not to arrest anyone from the election cities--Sylhet, Rajshahi and Barisal--without a warrant.

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Nazmun Ara Khanam, DIG of police (Sylhet Range) Kamrul Ahsan and Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Golam Kibria, among others, spoke at the discussion meeting.

The mayoral and councillor candidates in Sylhet City Corporation elections, scheduled for July 30, officially launched campaign after allocation of electoral symbols by the returning officer on July 10.

risingbd/Dhaka/July 14, 2018/Noman/A K Azad