DHAKA CITY POLLS EC orders probe into attack on Tabith

Election Commission secretary M Alamgir on Tuesday said that the commission asked returning officer for Dhaka north city corporation polls Abul Kashem to investigate the alleged attack on Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s mayoral candidate Tabith Awal.

Tabith Awal along with at least 10 to 15 supporters and journalists were injured in an attack during his election campaign at Ananda Nagar of Bardhanbari in Gabtali area on Tuesday.

M Alamgir said that the returning officer was asked to submit a probe report on the attack immediately.

Meanwhile, the BNP on the day officially demanded cancellation of using of Electronic Voting Machines in mayoral elections to Dhaka north and south city corporations slated for February 1.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury submitted a letter signed by BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in this regard.

After submitting the letter, Amir Khasru told reporters that the Election Commission still has a chance to prove that they can hold free and fair elections in the upcoming city polls.

‘And to ensure that, the use of EVMs should be cancelled and votes should be cast using the conventional ballot boxes,’ he added.

The commission issued an order clarifying that all government and private offices and other institutions would remain closed on the polling day as the day already declared as public holiday.

EC deputy secretary M Atir Rahman said that factories, industries and commercial entities would also remain close on the voting day.

According to the commission officials, the commission will hold a meeting with different law enforcement agencies today over the security measures and deployment mechanism for the city polls.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net