Dr Kamal urges countrymen to guard polling stations

Senior Correspondent: Jatiya Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain called upon the people of the country to guard the polling stations so that the parliamentary elections on December 30 are held in a free and fair manner.

Dr Kamal, also the president of Gono Forum, made the call while addressing a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Saturday afternoon.

“As the owner of the state, people must guard the polling stations so that the elections are held in a credible manner,” he said.

“Both the media and people are saying that there might be hindrance in various ways to the election. We all will remain alert to protect the election process thwarting the obstruction, no matter who does it -- the government or anyone else,” the Oikyafront leader added.

Dr Kamal urged the people of the country to go to polling stations in the morning on the election day and make sure all of their neighbours can cast their votes without any hindrance.

He said they want people to actively take part in governing the country. “The responsibility doesn’t end if only after the vote is cast. It’s a big responsibility to elect honest and competent persons after scrutiny while giving votes.”

The Oikyafront chief went on saying, “Because, if the country’s owners don’t elect their representatives properly, the entire nation will be deprived of good governance, constitutional rule and basic rights. Everyone will have to come forward considering it as a responsibility.”

Mentioning that the country’s people want a change, he said, “I, therefore, appeal to all of our people to unite as we’d obtained independence in 1971, and unite with the same determination to preserve and strengthen this independence as we move forward towards completing the 50th year of our independence in 2021.”

Dr Kamal said he believes that free and fair election is an essential aspect of the independence and sovereignty of a country. “If the right to vote cannot be exercised by the country’s people through free and fair election the very independence of the country is at stake.”

The Oikyafront leader requested the media to circulate accurate information about the elections saying the media have a big responsibility in this regard.

Drawing attention to an EC instruction that asks for permission from presiding officers for access to polling centres and prevents journalists from capturing photos or videos from inside the polling stations during the elections, Dr Kamal said, “Discussion is on in this regard and we may go to the court if needed.”


risingbd/Dhaka/Dec 1, 2018/Reza/AI