Work sans fear or favour, EC Kabita to presiding officers

Sayeed Muhammad of DOT
Election Commissioner Kabita Khanam has asked the presiding officers of Munshiganj to work without fear or favour.The election commissioner was addressing a training session of presiding officers in the district yesterday, reports UNB.
“Following the rules and executing your duties properly are also part of honesty,” she said at a training workshop of vote officials at KK Government Institution. “No one will dare approaching you with any illegal request if you are honest,” she said. “It is a competitive election, a participatory one. There could be some problems.” Reminding them of the fact that a centre remains in the grip of its presiding officer, she said, “You have to analyse the situation and decide for yourself if voting can go on. The EC will not interfere.”
Kabita said mobile courts headed by executive and judicial magistrates would operate on the election day.
Army and Border Guard Bangladesh troopers have been deployed alongside police and Rapid Action Battalion to maintain law and order ahead of the election.
“Treat the candidates equally. I am not threatening you, I merely reminding you,” the election commissioner said. “We don’t want to let anyone off in this election.”
Election Commissioner Kabita Khanam today said voters will not be allowed to carry mobile phone sets while entering polling centres to exercise their franchise.
The election commissioner said mobile phone sets will not be allowed as voters show the picture of casting votes to their candidates many times.
Besides, it may spread a negative message in social media, she said while addressing a training session of presiding officers in Munshiganj.
Among others, Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Shaila Farzana and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Faruk Ahmed were present at the programme.