EC to do everything possible to bring all parties to polls

The reconstituted Election Commission on Thursday pledged to do everything possible for ensuring all parties’ participation in the next parliamentary polls.
The EC would take a ‘zero tolerance policy’ against any violence and intimidations even in the upcoming local body elections, EC officials said. 
The commission made the decision in its maiden meeting held at the commission office with chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda, in the chair.
Election commissioners Mahbub Talukder, Md Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury were also present.
The EC decided that commissioner Shahadat would pay a visit to Baghaichari municipality in Rangamati on Friday ahead of municipality election there, scheduled February 18.
They also discussed about functioning and power of Indian Election Commission and some other countries’ election systems, officials said. 
The commission secretary M Abdullah, presented a paper over the commission’s current status and its functioning, they said.
Earlier, in the morning on the day, the CEC said he believes that ensuring free and fair elections for the next five years seemed ‘challenging’.
He was responding to the media after a trip to the National Memorial– accompanied by other commissioners– to pay their tributes to the martyrs of the War of Independence.
The CEC said they are yet to start their full fledged works and that they are taking their duties as a challenge to accomplish those successfully.
The newly formed commission began its five-year journey on Wednesday. 

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