Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday warned that the Election Commission will suspend balloting in the polling centre if there is an allegation of vote rigging in any polling booth.
The CEC said: “You have to trust the system. Voters should be given an opportunity to exercise their right to vote. if there is a single case of vote rigging, I will suspend voting in that centre immediately.”
“Even if it is at 8am, 9am, we will suspend that centre because the result can be affected for even one."
He urged candidates to strictly follow the electoral code of conduct.
“Follow electoral code strictly and come out of the belief that irregularities must be done in the voting field,” he said while speaking at a view exchange meeting with the election candidates at the Returning Officer’s auditorium in Barisal.
“We want to ensure a free, fair and neutral election and won’t spare anyone if they try to obstruct it,”the CEC added.
He said "Irregularities must be done in the election, otherwise there will be no show of strength, we do not believe in it, you certainly do not do it either. Elections will not be done by campaign alone. The main election will be through polling. The balloting on January 7 is the most important part of the election, which you will know at home through the declaration at the centre.”
The CEC also said: “There have been many controversies in the past regarding elections. State representatives of different countries also gave different speeches. I am here today to take your pledge so that elections are free, fair and peaceful and voters can exercise their right to vote."
Barisal Divisional Commissioner Shawkat Ali presided over the meeting while Election Commission Secretary Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Barisal Range Deputy Inspector General Jamil Hasan, Police Commissioner Jihadul Kabir, returning officer and Deputy Commissioner Shahidul Islam were present there.
