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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has stated that the Election Commission can ensure with 100per cent certainty that there will be no irregularities in the voting process on the night before the election.
He emphasized that this commitment is non-negotiable, and to achieve this, ballot papers will be sent to polling centres early in the morning.
Addressing participating candidates and officials in Chattogram on Tuesday, the CEC said, “We can guarantee with 100per cent certainty that whatever questions pointed out regarding the election and voting on the night before the election, it will not have any impact. For this reason, ballot papers will be dispatched to many centres on the voting day in the morning.”
“Even if ballot papers were sent 10 days or 10 months before the election, candidates will use their polling agents to check whether the ballot boxes at the voting centres are empty or not, and only then will they seal the boxes.
“In such a case, there will be no chance of any invalid ballot boxes entering the voting centres. Afterwards, we urge sending the ballot papers early in the morning for confidence and trust,” he said.
“Polling agents at the voting centres will stand and ensure that the ballot boxes are empty. They will remain at the centre until the end of the vote count and result announcement. Everything will be monitored to ensure accuracy. If the counting is done correctly, then we can be certain that the vote is fair and impartial,” he also said.
The CEC further mentioned, “If any disturbance or malpractice occurs during the voting, the presiding officer has been instructed to stop the voting. If the presiding officer fails to do so, upon being informed, we will intervene and stop the process.
“We have communicated with the OC, UNO, DC, and SP, and according to their statements, the election environment is good so far.”
Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Tofayel Islam, chaired the meeting, and special guests included Secretary of the Election Commission Jahangir Alam, Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police Krishna Pad Ray, DIG of Chattogram Range Nurul Alam Mina, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Abul Basar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman, and Chattogram District Police Superintendent SM Shafiullah.
