11th parliamentary polls Sunday

Staff Correspondent: All the preparations have been completed for the December 30 balloting for which the entire nation is eagerly waiting.

The 11^th parliamentary elections will be held tomorrow amid much fervor and festivity with 10, 42, 38,677 voters exercising their voting rights to elect 299 members of parliament out of 300.

The voting is set to begin at 8:00 am and will continue till 4:00 pm without any break.

The election in Gaibandha-3 constituency has been postponed due to the death of a candidate and voting for the seat will be held on January 27.

The Election Commission (EC) has completed all preparations to hold the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner across the country. The ballot papers and other polling materials, including stamp pads, official seals, marking seals, have already been sent to every district for the polling.

A total of 1,861 candidates are contesting the elections. Among them, 1,733 are from political parties and 128 independents.

A total of 10, 42, 38,677 voters, including 5, 25, 72,365 male and 5,16,66,312 female, will cast their votes at 206,477 polling booths of the 40,183 voting centers in 299 constituencies across the country.

The EC will take votes using Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at all polling booths in six constituencies for the first time. The constituencies are- Dhaka-6 and 13, Chattogram-9, Rangpur-3, Khulna-2 and Satkhira-2.

Following the new electoral rules, a total of 39 registered political parties are vying for the polls.

About 608,000 members of law enforcement agencies, 66 returning officers, will perform their responsibilities to conduct the election across the country.

A total of 4,0183 presiding officers, 20, 7,312 assistant presiding officers and 4,14,624 polling officers have been appointed for conducting the election while about 1,328 executive magistrates will be deployed and 640 judicial magistrates will work in 122 electoral inquiry committees during the polls.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Saturday directed law enforcers to create a safe environment for all and foil any bid to resort to anarchy and irregularities during Sunday's general election.

He also warned that if anything (violence and irregularity) takes place in any place due to negligence and inaction of the members of law enforcement agencies, action will be taken against all of them following investigations.

Mentioning that the polling agents have huge responsibilities, the CEC urged them not to leave the polling stations in any way until they get the election result sheets in their hands.

On the conclusion of the balloting, the presiding officer concerned will start counting votes inside the polling station in the presence of agents of candidates, journalists and others concerned and provide a result sheet to every agent, said Nurul Huda.

He urged all the officers engaged in election activities to perform their responsibilities going beyond the partisan views.

He said a peaceful atmosphere is prevailing in the country. Securities of all the voters will be ensured at any cost on the day of balloting.

The EC and local administrations have been working relentlessly so that the voters can return to their respective residences safely after casting their votes.

All the agencies concerned, including the law-enforcement ones, have already started rendering their duties properly to make the election peaceful.


risingbd/Dhaka/Dec 29, 2018/Hasibul/AI