President asks EC to ensure free, fair national polls

Desk Report: President M Abdul Hamid has asked the Election Commission (EC) and all concerned to continue their relentless efforts to hold the upcoming 11th national election in a free and fair manner.

The President gave the directives as a six-member delegation of the Election Commission (EC) led by its Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban on Thursday evening.

“During the meeting, the President also suggested the EC to remain alert against misuse of technologies in the polls as the uses of technologies are being expanded day by day,” President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS.

President Abdul Hamid also advised the EC and other concerned to avert all sorts of controversies over the election activities.

He hoped that the election to the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) will be held in a free and fair manner with the support and cooperation of all concerned.

The press secretary said the CEC apprised the President of the overall preparations of the next Jatiya Sangsad election including updating of the voters list, demarcation of the electoral areas, and pros and cons of the polls process.

Election commissioners – Mahbub Talukdar, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam, Brigadier General Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury (retd), EC secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed and secretaries concerned to the President were present there.

Meanwhile, the CEC briefed the newsmen in front of the Bangabhaban gate where he dubbed the EC’s meeting with the President as a courtesy call on prior to the next general election.

“The EC will sit on November 4 to finalize the schedule of the next national election . . . we only informed the President about the overall polls’ preparation,” he said.

The President, during the meeting, expressed his satisfaction over the polls preparations, the CEC added. _BSSf

risingbd/Dhaka/November 01, 2018/A K Azad