Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday issued a stern warning against the use of muscle power in the upcoming city corporation elections, emphasizing the need for strict measures to prevent such incidents.
During an interactive session with the mayoral and councillor candidates participating in the Sylhet City Corporation (CCC) elections, the CEC called upon the local police and civil administration to take immediate action in this regard.
The session, chaired by Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Dr Muhammad Mosharrof Hossain, took place at the Jalalabad Gas Auditorium in Sylhet.
Highlighting the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and CCTV cameras in the elections, the CEC emphasized that any irregularities detected on the CCTV footage will be addressed centrally. This strict vigilance aims to ensure the credibility of the EVMs.
The CEC reiterated the importance of elections in a democratic society, stating that democracy cannot exist without a robust electoral process and that elections are an integral part of democracy.
Directing his remarks to the candidates, the CEC advised them to exercise restraint and promote non-violence throughout the electoral process. He warned that immediate action will be taken against any instances of violence during the elections and urged the candidates to strictly adhere to the prescribed code of conduct.
Addressing the overall security of the polling stations, the CEC called upon all concerned parties to trust the Election Commission's efforts in ensuring a safe and fair electoral environment.
The gathering also saw the participation of Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Elias Sharif, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md Mozibor Rahman, Sylhet City Election Returning Officer and Regional Election Officer Faisal Qadir, as well as several mayoral and councillor candidates, who shared their views.
The SCC elections are scheduled to be held on June 21, with eight candidates vying for the position of mayor.
Notably, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chosen to boycott this election.
