Gazipur: Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar on Thursday urged all concerned to hold the upcoming Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election in a free and fair manner.

‘The election won’t be meaningful if a level-playing field is not created for all. We don’t want our reputation to get tarnished,’ he said, reports the UNB.

Mahbub Talukdar was speaking as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting organised by the Election Commission and the district administration at the DC office.

The Election Commissioner said, ‘By holding a fair election, we want to show the voters that we’re on the path of democracy. If the GCC election is not neutral, it’ll be a defeat of the people of Gazipur. We don’t want them to lose.’

He said the upcoming GCC election, to be held on May 15, will be a testing ground for them before the general election. ‘The successful arrangement of the polls will prove our mettle before the big election.’

Mahbub urged the law enforcement agencies to be aware of ballot snatching before the election day and take immediate actions against such practice.

He also called upon the candidates not to violate the code of conduct during their electioneering, which may result in their disqualification.

Asked about BNP’s demand for withdrawing the district superintendent of police, the Election Commissioner said they have not yet received any formal complaint in this regard from them.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Dewan Mohammad Humayun Kabir, who presided over the programme, said the polling agents will start receiving training on May 5 with another views-exchange meeting billed for May 9 in the presence of the Chief Election Commissioner, mayoral and councillor candidates.

Superintendent of Gazipur police Md Harun-Or-Rashid said a fair election will be held in Gazipur like the previous ones.

He claimed although 33 days have already passed by after the election schedule was announced, they harassed no one over the election. ‘We’re taking every possible step to ensure security for the voters so that they can cast their votes safely.’

Alongside the mayoral candidates, election officers, magistrates and others concerned were present on the occasion.