Day Before Thakurgaon-1 By-Election, EC Secretary Says No Cause for Alarm, Drones and Body Cameras to Monitor

On the day before the Thakurgaon-1 by-election, Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said no situation has arisen so far that gives cause for concern. At a press conference at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon on Wednesday, he said the environment is in place for voters to cast their votes without hindrance.

Voting in Thakurgaon-1 will be held on Thursday from 8am to 4pm, the EC secretary said. He noted that the commission is closely observing the law-and-order situation and the overall condition of polling centres around the election.

Akhtar Ahmed said the same kind of security and monitoring arrangements have been kept for this election, in continuity with previous polls. The same arrangements were in place for the February 12 election and for the later by-elections in Sherpur and Bogura, he said.

In that continuity, special monitoring of the law-and-order situation and polling centres will also be carried out in the Thakurgaon-1 by-election. The situation will be observed in coordination with the BGB, SRB and police, the EC secretary said.

As monitoring tools, he mentioned body cameras alongside BGB and police cameras and BGB drones. The situation will be observed round the clock from Nirbachan Bhaban, he added.

Asked by journalists about various complaints around the election and movements based on them, the EC secretary said no complaint can be taken lightly. He also said he does not want to take a defensive position on the complaints.

News published in various media will be reviewed and necessary action taken, he said. Every news item may contain some important information, and verifying that information and acting on it is the commission's duty. Steps based on such information would make it possible to conduct the election better, he commented.

On the truth of the various complaints about the election, he said which complaint is correct and which has flaws will be understood after observing the situation on polling day. He urged everyone to wait until voting begins.

Asked whether voters of all classes in Thakurgaon-1 will be able to vote without hindrance, the EC secretary said such an environment exists. He said he has spoken with Thakurgaon's superintendent of police, deputy commissioner and the district election officer serving as returning officer, and that regular contact is being maintained with them. No reason for concern has been found so far, he said.