Thakurgaon-1 by-election voting atmosphere fair, peaceful: EC

Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed said today that the voting atmosphere in the by-election to the Thakurgaon-1 constituency is fair and normal, with the Election Commission (EC) receiving no complaints of irregularities so far.

He made the remarks at his office at the Election Bhaban in Agargaon in the capital while commenting on the electoral environment in the by-election.

Explaining a scene of stamping on a ballot paper circulated on social media and in the media, he said the ballot paper in question had not been detached from the counterfoil book, nor had a stamp been placed on the electoral symbol. The stamp had been placed on the back of the ballot paper, he added.

He said that the person might have made this advance preparation to maintain the continuity of voting and complete the voting process quickly.

Akhtar Ahmed said he had spoken to the returning officer about the overall situation of the by-election. At that time, the candidates had also said that the voting environment was satisfactory, he said, adding that the situation was being monitored through a live-streaming system at the polling centres.

Asked whether any complaints of irregularities had been received, the senior secretary said the Commission had not received any such complaints so far.

He said complaints about any irregularities could be lodged locally with the judicial inquiry committee assigned to the area, executive magistrates, judicial magistrates and law enforcement agencies. The officials concerned were actively monitoring the situation, he added.

Akhtar Ahmed urged media personnel to refrain from disseminating false or misleading information without verification.