Upazila elections must be free, fair: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday said the upazila parishad elections must be held in a free and fair manner at any cost.

"We have to prove that Bangladesh has democracy, and that is why we must hold the upazila polls free and fair," said the CEC while exchanging views on the law and order situation with field administrations ahead of the upazila polls at Nirbachon Bhaban in the city, reports BSS.

"If we fail to hold free and fair upazila polls, the democratic continuity which has been established after the parliamentary elections on January 7 would be tarnished," Awal said.

There might be some chaos in any election, but measures should be taken so that the voters can cast their vote without any trouble, said the CEC, drawing attention of all the deputy commissioners (DCs) and police supers who attended the meeting.

He also gave directives to the field level administrative officials so that the upazila polls can be conducted without any violence.