Level playing field will be ensured in KCC election: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday said that the election commission (EC) wants to hold a free and fair election at a level playing field in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election through a coordinated effort from all.

The candidates either mayor or councillor will have to face the music if anybody violates the ‘code of conduct’ of the EC,” he said while speaking at a view exchange meeting with candidates for mayoral, general ward and women reserve seats at local Shilpokola Academy in Khulna as chief guest.

“Voters will come to the polling centres easily and cast their votes for their choice of full candidates. If we get complaints that the voters are being blocked to enter the centre, failing to cast vote, and there are miscreants in the centre who resisted them, strict action will be taken against them, the CEC said adding that if any candidate breaks the code of conduct, he or she will not be spared.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Rtd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan and Secretary to the Election Commission Secretariat Md Jahangir Alam attended the meeting as special guests where Khulna Divisional Commissioner Zillur Rahman Chowdhury was in the chair. The meeting was addressed, among others, by Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Yasir Arefin, Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commissioner Masudur Rahman Bhuiyan, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Khulna Range Moinul Haque, Superintendent of Police (SP) Khulna Mahbub Hasan.

“If the presiding officer neglects his duty, we will take strict action against him. Candidates also have to perform their duties well,” the CEC said.