Election Commissioner Md Ahsan Habib Khan on Saturday said preventing the voters from coming to the polling station is a punishable crime.
“It is the candidate's responsibility to present the voters at the polling stations. However, anyone who prevents voters from coming to the polling station is liable to imprisonment for three to seven years. And we have instructed the law enforcement agencies accordingly,” he added.
He made the comments after a meeting with the election-related officials in the conference room of the Jhalakathi deputy commissioner on Saturday morning.
About BNP’s participation in the elections, the election commissioner said: “BNP's agenda for participating in the elections is different. The Election Commission has nothing to do with it. If they desire, the political parties can come to a solution by sitting and discussing. If they come to a solution, the Election Commission will consider that."
Addressing the BNP, he further said: "If they come to the polls, we (the commission) will also be satisfied. We want all the parties to participate in the elections. We have been trying to achieve this goal since the beginning."
Election Commissioner Ahsan Habib Khan warned the concerned officials not to show any laxity in fulfilling their duties. The upcoming election needs to be free, fair, and peaceful.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal announced the schedule for the 12th parliamentary elections, with the polls set to be held on January 7.
He also urged political parties to find a way to avoid conflict ahead of the 12th parliamentary elections and asked voters to exercise their right to vote without fear.
As per schedule, nominations are to be filed by November 30, which will be scrutinized from December 1 to 4. The last date for the withdrawal of nominations is December 17.
Symbols will be allotted to the political parties, and the election campaign will begin on December 18.
The total number of voters is about 119,700,000, and the number of polling stations is around 42,000. A total of 262,000 booths will be used for voting.
