The Election Commission is going to face another challenge to hold a free and fair election for the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC). This will help the EC win the confidence of people and reassure the opposition that a neutral national election is possible under its supervision.
The EC thinks that it gained the confidence of people and political parties during the Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet City Corporation elections that were held on June 15.
EC officials on Saturday said now the commission was more confident about holding the GCC polls and the next general election in a free, fair and neutral manner, if it had sufficient manpower.
The GCC poll is the last major election before the general elections, said an EC official adding that the commission had asked on several occasions to hold the split DCC polls if the LGRD ministry resolved the issues that arose with holding elections.
Now, the commission is attaching more importance to the newly formed GCC poll, scheduled for July 6.
It has already asked the law enforcing agencies to step up security in the GCC voting centres to prevent untoward incidents. Election commissioner, Shah
Newaz said the EC had been able gain the people’s and the political parties’ trust.
The EC has taken all kinds of preparations to hold a clean GCC poll, as this is also a test for the EC ahead of the next general elections.
The officials also said the just-concluded city corporation polls had seen about a 70% voter turnout.
The GCC has a total of 1,026,964 voters, 499,181 male and 52,7783 are female.
As many as 384 polling centres and 2250 polling booths will be set up across corporation area. Out of a 57 wards 19 are reserved for women.
