CEC: I cannot assure anomaly-free election

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday said he cannot assure there will be no anomaly during the next general election.

"I don't have the scope to assure that there'll be no anomaly anywhere during such a huge public election. But we'll control those (anomalies) conducting investigations or following other means. Actions will be taken in case of any anomaly," he said.

The CEC made the remarks after inaugurating a workshop on “Challenges for physically-challenged voters to participate in the electoral process” at the Election Training Institute (ETI) in the city.

KM Nurul Huda, however, said the national election will not witness the problems seen in the recently held city corporation polls.

Replying to a question whether there is any discomfort, he said: "No, we aren't in discomfort. We don't think such problems will be seen in the national election."

About anomalies in the recent city corporation elections, he said it is quite normal that some anomalies will occur in such public elections. "The commission took massive action where there were massive anomalies."

"There had been massive anomalies in Barisal (City Corporation election) ... we took action there accordingly. Voting at many polling stations were postponed," he added.

The CEC said the schedule for national elections will be announced in October to hold the polls in December or early January next year.

The EC has the constitutional obligation to complete the election by January 28, 2019.

When his attention was drawn to the remark of Constitution expert Dr Kamal Hossain that the nation cannot place their trust in them, the CEC said, "I don't know how Dr Kamal sees it, whether he has statistics of the nation...whether the nation told him by casting their votes or any other means that they're the nation and they don't keep trust in...."

Replying to a question, KM Nurul Huda said there is no connection between the ongoing student movement and the electoral atmosphere. "There is nothing for the Election Commission to be worried."

Noting that now a friendly situation prevails to arrange elections this coming December, he said, "I see no problem. The election will be held as per the provision of the Constitution."

As part of the preparation for the 11th national election, the Commission has already completed updating the electoral roll, worked on delimitationof the constituencies and has prepared training manuals, while work on determining polling stations continues.