DHAKA, Oct 01, 2023 (BSS) – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal today urged the government officials to work for get rid of the perception that people have no confidence in the EC and government regarding holding a free and fair election.

“We have to take the challenge that we can hold a free and fair election and we want to probe it through media and observers,” he said.

The CEC said this while opening a two-day workshop for the UNOs and election officers at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon here.

Habibul Awal asked the Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and election officers to remain alert against spreading of all sorts of misinformation regarding the next general polls.

“You should be careful to thwart out any propaganda in the media particularly social media so that none can hinder the election process anyway,” he said adding that ‘poll will be credible when you will discharge your duty properly.”

The CEC said there are lots of propaganda (misinformation or disinformation), in the media on the coming election…, and many thing can be fabricated and promoted through media instantly. ‘We have to strictly control that propaganda,” he said.

A total of 100 participants including 50 UNOs are taking part in the workshop.

Urging the UNOs and election officials to discharge their assigned duties with utmost responsibility the CEC said all their activities would strictly be monitored.

The CEC said there can be various types of debates and criticisms about the elections. We can find same controversies in the 50, 60, or 70 years of Bengal election history, and even in the elections during the British era.

Habibul Awal put emphasis on UNOs’ gaining people’s trust as they would mostly conduct the polls. He urged for ensuring congenial atmosphere so that voters can come to the polling centers and exercise their franchise freely saying otherwise ‘you would be responsible’, the CEC warned.

He also directed the UNOs and polls officers to take the help of the local police administration and encourage the people to come to voting centers.

About the widespread allegations over forcing the rival polling agents to leave the polling centers, the CEC said, “presence of the agents of every candidate should be ensured and their presence can curb the rigging to a large extent.

EC secretary Md. Jahangir Alam, additional secretary Ashoke Kumar Debnath, DG of NID wing AKM Humayun Kabir and ETI DG SM Asaduzzaman were present.