Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Sunday reaffirmed that the elections to three city corporations, slated for 28 April, will be free and fair.

‘We’ll go for action and there’ll be no compromise when it comes to arranging free polls,’ he said.

The CEC said this while addressing a views-exchange meeting with mayoral and councillor candidates of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) at Krishibid Institution in the capital’s Farmgate area.

Kazi Rakibuddin urged all the mayoral and councillor contenders to help create a congenial situation so that voters can exercise their franchise without any fear.

He also called upon them not to violate the election code of conducts.

All the mayoral candidates present at the programme, including Awami League-backed Annisul Huq, demanded that a level-playing field be ensured for all.

Several mayoral candidates demanded army deployment for maintaining the law and order situation ahead of the polls.

BNP-backed mayoral candidate Tabith Awal sought the commission’s intervention so that the leaders and activists of BNP-led 20-party, who are in jail and hideout, can engage themselves in the electioneering.

Four Election Commissioners -- Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Mohammad Zabed Ali and Shah Nawaz and DMP commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia -- were present at the meeting.

Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam facilitated the programme.