CEC expects Rangpur city polls to be free, fair

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday hoped that the Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) elections-2022 will be held in a free, fair and orderly environment.

“Law and order situation will be good in the elections. Those, who are in charge of law and order in Rangpur, have assured me of having maximum preparations. There will be no deterioration of law and order situation,” he said.

The CEC said this while talking to the journalists at a press briefing after addressing a meeting on the law and order situation for the RpCC elections at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office as the chief guest.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan and EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam attended the meeting as special guests.

Returning Officer for RpCC Elections-2022 and Joint Secretary of the Election Commission Md. Abdul Baten, Divisional Commissioner Md. Sabirul Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nure Alam Mina, Deputy Commissioner Dr Chitralekha Nazneen, Rangpur Regional Election Officer GM Sahatab Uddin and other officials were present.

The CEC told the journalists that the Election Commission thinks that voters will not face any obstacle in the elections.

“The RpCC elections will be monitored from both Dhaka and Rangpur with CCTV cameras. If any problem is noticed, steps will be taken immediately,” he said.

He said polling agents will also be monitored. If they create problems, actions will be taken against them too. But, the presiding officers have to take responsibility to ensure good elections.

Regarding national elections, he said the Election Commission always wants all parties to participate in the elections.

“So, we called all the parties to come to the elections. We will be happy if the BNP comes to the elections. We want every party to create a competitive environment in elections,” he said.

He called upon the people of Rangpur city to come to the polling stations with confidence and faith and without fear.

The CEC said, “Our messages properly go to the voters through the media. Media workers perform their civic duties. You (voters) come to the polling stations and exercise voting rights. I am assuring voters of not facing obstacles.”

He said, “In the elections, media movement will be free. Media workers can go inside except going to the secret rooms. We give due importance to the media.”

A total of 255 candidates, including nine for mayoral post, 179 for 33 general councillor posts and 67 for 11 reserved women councillor posts are finally in the fray for RpCC Elections-2022.

The RpCC elections will be held at 229 polling centres using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from 8 am to 4 pm on December 27 next. Every polling station will be covered by CCTV cameras.

As many as 4,26,469 voters, including 2,12,302 males and 2,14,167 females, will exercise their voting rights in the RpCC Elections- 2022.