Narayanganj: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Thursday said no anomaly will be tolerated in the Narayanganj City Corporation polls slated for December 22.

“There’s nothing to be worried as the law enforcement agencies are present here. The Election Commission is determined to arrange a fair election,” he said while addressing a views-exchange meeting in the city.

The EC arranged the views-exchange meeting with mayoral and councillor contestants of the NCC election at the Narayanganj Club to hear complaints, suggestions and opinions from them.

Chaired by the CEC, the meeting was addressed, among others, by three election commissioners -- Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, Mohammad Abu Hafiz and Md Shah Nawaz, EC Secretary Mohammad Abdullah, all mayoral candidates, including Awami League’s Dr Salina Hayat Ivy and BNP’s Sakhawat Hossain Khan, as well as councillor candidates.

Rakibuddin said, “There’ll be arrangements so that voters can exercise their voting rights going to the polling stations without any fear and intimidation.” 

He urged the candidates to accept the public mandate in the election and sought cooperation from them to check the use of black money in the election. 

The CEC directed the law enforcement agencies to thwart any attempt to drive out polling agents from the polling stations. “The law enforcement agencies will take all necessary measures to arrange the election in a free and fair manner. If necessary, we’ll deploy more law enforcers in the final moment,” the CEC said.

BNP mayoral candidate Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan reiterated the demand for the deployment of army in the election, saying a level-playing field is yet to be created and the voters are in panic.

He alleged that the returning officer did not take any action even after his complaints of polls code violation. “My activists are being intimidated. A frightening environment has created ahead of the election,” he said.

The BNP candidate also demanded removal of biased government officials from the local administration.

AL mayoral candidate Dr Salina Hayat Ivy said the common voters want a fair election. “I also want that the election is held freely and fairly.”

She hoped that the present Election Commission will arrange such an election so that the government faces no criticism.

Pointing at Sakhawat, Ivy said, “You don’t support violence and I don’t as well. You can trust me that I’ve no force and I don’t patron terrorists. I do support fair election. I don’t want any unfair advantage.”

She also said, “You’re invited to my residence to have breakfast on December 23 if I’m elected on December 22. I’ll have my breakfast at your residence if you’re elected.”

She asked her rival candidates to be careful so that no third quarter can take any advantage.

Ivy, the first female city corporation mayor in the country, urged the Election Commission to intensify the mobile court drives on the nights of December 19, 20 and 21 to check the use of black money to buy votes.

Dhaka’s divisional commissioner Helal Uddin Ahmed, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (Dhaka Range) Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman, returning officer of the election Nuruzzaman Talukder and Superintendent of Police of Narayanganj Moinul Haque spoke at the views-exchange meeting moderated by Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj Rabbi Miah.