Candidacy of relatives of ministers, MPs not a problem: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said that the Election Commission (EC) is not in trouble over the candidacy of the relatives of the ministers and lawmakers in the upazila parishad polls.

Speaking at a press conference at Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon in the capital on Tuesday (May 7), the CEC said, “The election is being held not for the sake of organising the polls only. Elections are inevitably necessary. Our job is to organise elections, it does not matter who becomes the candidate from which party.”

Regarding the influence of MP-ministers in the vote, the CEC said, “We are trying to ensure that the vote is not influenced. We have been able to prevent MP-ministers from influencing the polls. We are not in trouble. Elections will be free. If anyone tries to influence the election, action will be taken accordingly.”

Regarding boycotting the election by the BNP leaders, he said, “It does not matter if probable candidates from any party boycott the election. What is important to us is whether there is competition between candidates in the election. If there is only one candidate, the vote will be held.”

“Voting will be held in 140 upazilas and in 22 upazilas it will be held through EVM. Each centre will have 17 to 19 law enforcement personnel. There will be 19 to 21 law enforcement personnel in each centre in hilly areas,” said the CEC, adding, “Hopefully, maintaining law and order situation will be easier. Immediate action will be taken against candidates and their activists if they violate the election code of conduct.”

Local government elections are held with much enthusiasm. Local elections will be more festive than national elections.”