Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said that the Election Commission (EC) has completed all kinds of preparation to hold a free, fair and credible by-election to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Thursday.

‘Executive and judicial magistrates and required number of law enforcement agency members have been employed to hold the election in a fair manner. There also will be EC’s monitoring teams in the election fields,’ he said at a press conference at media center of the EC secretariat in the city.

Besides, members of different law enforcement agencies will be employed as striking forces at different spots while police, BGB and RAB personnel will be patrolling in the city during the election, he added, reports the BSS.

Huda urged all polling agents to stay in the respective polling stations until they got result sheet of the election.

Legal action will be taken if allegation of playing bias role in the election is proved against any election official and law enforcement agency member, the CEC said.

‘Voting will be stopped immediately if any irregularities take place at any centre during the election. And stern action will be taken against those who will be responsible for the incident after investigation,’ he added.

Speaking about vehicle movement in the elation area, Huda said the vehicles can ply on the ‘main road’. The people, however, can also ply their private vehicles on an emergency basis, he added.

Responding to a query over poor participation in the polls, the CEC said people might not have shown eagerness participating in the election as its tenure will be only for a year.

‘However, we have nothing to do if any party does not take part in the election,’ he added.

By-poll to the DNCC mayoral post and election to councilor and reserved councilor posts of the newly added 36 wards, including 18 under the DNCC and 18 under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), will be held from 8 am to 4 pm without any break tomorrow.

Five candidates including Awami League (AL) nominated Atiqul Islam have been contesting for the mayoral post of DNCC.

A total of 116 candidates are vying for general councilor post and 45 for reserved councilor post in the DNCC while 125 are contesting for general councilor post and 45 for reserved councilor post in the DSCC.