The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday asked the law enforcing agencies to ensure that goons and gun can't create any trouble during the forthcoming city corporation and municipal election

The CEC said army would not be deployed during the election and it was the responsibility of the law enforcing agencies to forestall the return of the known criminals to their home grounds ahead of the City Corporation and municipal polls scheduled to be held on August 4.

"People are concerned as these criminals are returning to their areas ahead of elections. Operation will have to be launched to resist the activities of the terrorists and to recover illegal weapons," the CEC said while presiding over a law-and-order meeting at the NEC auditorium at Agargaon.

He directed the law-enforcing agencies to launch countrywide operation to arrest terrorists and recover illegal weapons for holding the local-body elections in a free, fair and neutral manner.

After the meeting he told newsmen that to ensure law and order known criminals will be targeted, taken into custody and illegal arms will be recovered prior to the polls.

Identifying half of the polling centers in the polling areas as being risky, the CEC asked the law-enforcing agencies to conduct their operation there maintaining strict neutrality.

He said that law enforcers will launch a three-tier vigilance operation in the risky areas. The first tier will be at the centre, the second tier will consist of mobile teams and the third one will be a striking force for tackling any kind of adversity, he noted.

The CEC asked all concerned officials to remain impartial from the stage of casting votes and to the end of vote counting.

Terming the local government polls " test case", he said if we can hold the city and municipality polls properly and smoothly it will make a positive impact on the upazila and national elections.

He informed that the electoral code of conduct had been maintained well so far. "But it's only two days since the state of emergency was relaxed. We have to proceed cautiously and observe whether the rules are being obeyed properly," he said.

He pointing out that this time the election officials have been vested with huge powers and they can arrest anybody without warrant who will hinder elections "But, they must be neutral in applying this special power," the Chief Election Commissioner said.

About the legal arms-holders, the CEC said a gazette notification

would be published soon from the Home Ministry so that they cannot carry them on the Election Day.

Speaking at the meeting, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Noor Mohammad said directives had already been given to all district police administration to take necessary steps to rein in terrorists and recover illegal weapons.

Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Mohammad Abdul Mobin, LGD Secretary

Khorshed Alam, Additional Home Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid,

Additional Inspector General of Police (SB) Baharul Alam, Coastguard

DG Commodore Maksumul Kader, Director of FCIB (DGFI) Brig Gen Mamun Khaled, NSI Director General Major Gen Sheikh Md Monirul Islam, BDR director general Major Gen Shakil Ahmed and Deputy DG of Anser-VDP Brig Gen Muhammad Anisur Rahman attended the meeting.