No unlawful instructions to police during local polls: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin has assured that the Election Commission will not issue any unlawful instructions to police during the upcoming local government elections.

“We have a total commitment” to holding the local elections, Nasir Uddin said on Wednesday (September 9) after inaugurating a training programme aimed at strengthening police skills and capacity for election duties at the Rajarbagh Police Auditorium in Dhaka.

The CEC said the commission had sought police cooperation to ensure a free and fair election, stressing that both the commission and law enforcement agencies have constitutional and legal responsibilities in the electoral process.

“No unlawful instructions will come from the commission,” he said, adding that police had also assured the EC of their commitment to delivering a credible election.

Asked whether the current law and order situation would allow local elections to be held, Nasir Uddin said conditions were not worse than those during the 13th national election. He also expressed confidence in the police.

On whether police would be able to perform their election duties free from political pressure, Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir said the country currently has a political but democratic government.

He said police would take all necessary measures, in consultation with the Election Commission, to ensure a fair and orderly election.

Asked about efforts to restore the police’s public image over the past six months, the IGP said he considered the force’s performance a “100 percent” success.