CEC vows level playing field in polls

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin yesterday said the EC will ensure a level playing field, with no staged elections this time.

The CEC made the remarks in the morning while speaking to reporters after visiting the nomination appeal booths set up at the commission’s Agargaon office in the capital.

When his attention was drawn to allegations that independent candidates are being harassed while collecting signatures from one percent of voters, the CEC said the EC is the appellate authority.

“Decisions taken by returning officers, if nominations are rejected, can be appealed to us. Or if a nomination is accepted and any candidate wants to challenge it, or if any financial institution raises an objection, or if anyone is aggrieved, we will take action in accordance with the law,” he said.

Asked about allegations that the law-and-order situation has not improved and a level playing field has not been ensured, he said in the past there had often been violence and deteriorating conditions on nomination filing days.

“This time, the nomination filing process has taken place very smoothly. We have not received any information about clashes, bombings, or violence during nomination filing anywhere. This is a positive sign,” he said.

Meanwhile, chief of the EU Election Observation Mission to Bangladesh Ivars Ijabs said around 200 EU observers will monitor the upcoming national election and referendum.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the CEC at Nirbachan Bhaban, Ijabs said the mission will include short-term observers on February 12, as well as members of the European Parliament.

The EC has also opened a law-and-order coordination cell at the Nirbachan Bhaban. The cell became operational yesterday and will remain active until February 13. 

On the fourth day of filing appeals against ROs’ decisions, 174 applications were submitted to the EC, raising the total number of appeals to 469.

Today is the last day for submitting appeals.