C T Online Desk: Election Commissioner Md Anisur Rahman said it is not the responsibility of the Election Commission to bring voters to polling centres.
“It is also not the responsibility of election officials. Candidates will have to bring voters to the centres. Candidates should have that kind of activity in their campaigns,” He said while talking to reporters about the upcoming Chittagong-10 by-polls on Sunday.
When asked about voter turnout in the Chittagong-10 by-polls, the election commissioner said voters may be less interested in the polls, as the national polls in around the corner.
“There are about five months left for the national elections. That might be the reason for the hesitation among the voters,” he said.
Anisur Rahman also added that they have conducted over 900 elections so far. “We had the same message there. You will analyze the good and the bad. No one was able to prove that there were irregularities or wrongdoing in those elections. We want free, fair and honest elections”
Referring to the attack on Dhaka-17 candidate Hero Alom, he said: “There has been some problem in the recent two elections. In the meantime, you have all seen the by-polls to Dhaka-17 constituency which was held on July 17. There are a variety of comments on this.”
He added: “The matter is under investigation. What happened here was unexpected. It is being investigated The truth will be revealed.”
Another incident was also reported during the Barisal City Corporation polls. Of course, these incidents are reprehensible, the election commissioner added.
Hero Alom was subjected to physical assault in Dhaka’s Banani area shortly before the end of voting on July 17.
He later alleged that ruling party men attacked him at Banani Bidyaniketan School and College polling centre in the afternoon “with the intention of murder.”
On June 10, Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim alleged that some 30-40 boat symbol supporters attacked them with sticks near Hatim Ali College after they left Sabera Khatun Girls’ Secondary School polling centre during the BCC polls.
