EC Alamgir: No foreign pressure on Election Commission regarding polls

Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said there was no foreign pressure on the Election Commission regarding polls. 

“They (foreigners) wanted to know what measures we have taken to make the election free, fair and peaceful,” he said after a meeting with the officials engaged in the election work in Mymensingh on Tuesday.

The election commissioner said the Bangladesh Army will be deployed during the 12th national polls to ensure security.

“Law enforcement agencies are active against those who have announced or are trying to resist the election,” he said. 

Regarding holding dialogues with the BNP and other political parties, he said they were repeatedly called for meetings but the parties never responded. 

“It is nothing new that the administration is being changed following the proposals given by the political parties participating in the election. Political parties and independent candidates will have to play a role in holding participatory polls and they will have to make arrangements to bring voters to the centers, he said.

The 12th parliamentary election will be held on January 7, as per the schedule announced by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on November 15.