Local Govt Polls
Army deployment the last resort, says CEC
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda speaks at a discussion titled "Local government election: Expectation and mass media" at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University yesterday organised by the university's Mass Communication and Journalism Department Alumni Association. Photo: Focus Bangla
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday reiterated his position against deployment of army during any local government polls. Huda told a meeting that he is displeased as Election Commission (EC) decided to deploy army in municipal polls this time. “We don't want army in the election. It's our last resort. We should not call in army without any proper reason.” He said army should not be thought of as an alternative to police and administration. It will not benefit the nation in the long run, he added. Huda stressed the culture of army deployment during elections must end; rather administration and police should have the capacity to conduct a poll. Mass Communication and Journalism Alumni Association of Dhaka University (DU) arranged the meeting at Senate Bhaban. Titled “Local government elections: People's desire and mass media,” it was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique. Huda said EC is satisfied with the overall situation of the polls to 121 municipalities and the turnout rate. “I can certainly say the voters were able to exercise their franchise in favour of their chosen candidates,” he added. He also described the municipal polls completely free, fair, and neutral saying EC was successful in providing the voters with this climate. The CEC also congratulated Nargis Khatun, the lone lady mayor elected from Charghat municipality of Natore in Rajshahi. Awami League Joint Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif said the last week municipal election was one of the most fair, free, and neutral polls ever held. He said the government believes the local government will be strengthened if honest and competent people are elected at local level. Information Commissioner Prof Sadeka Halim and TIB Executive Director of Dr Iftekharuzzaman attended the discussion as special guests. Prof Golam Rahman, Prof Jahida Rahman Khan, Prof Sheikh Abdus Salam, Associate Prof Robayet Ferdous, Dr Abul Monsur Ahmed, Senate member Subash Singha Roy, and Prothom Alo associate editor Sohrab Hasan took part in it. UNB adds: CEC said political parties do business in exchange of giving nomination to their candidates in local body elections. EC has made legal reforms in choosing honest and competent candidates, he said, adding that political parties should carefully nominate their contenders.
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