Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul
Awal today said that the mass media should play an objective role in
publishing reports on the upcoming 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections.

“Sometimes the media misleads people by presenting news cutting out the
necessary parts and omitting what was said before and after the speech,” he
said while talking to reporters after holding a meeting with the National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at the EC office here.

Led by NHRC Chairman Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, a delegation of the human rights
body joined the meeting.

“Our media should be more responsible and maintain objectivity in election
reporting to play a positive role in the overall election process or
political process by providing authentic news,” the CEC quoted the NHRC
chairman as he opined in the meeting and said the Election Commission (EC)
agreed with the NHRC chairman.

Replying to a question from journalists over breaching of electoral code of
conduct, Habibul Awal said, “We visited the electoral areas and talked to the
candidates. We had meetings with the administrations. We haven’t received
much complaint from them”.

He said there are no reports of acts of violence and breach of electoral code
of conduct taking place on a major scale. “We have not received many
complaints of violation of code of conduct from field administration and
candidates,” said the CEC.

There have been some incidents of violence, altercations, tearing of posters
in some areas. “But overall, I don’t think there have been many such
incidents,” said Habibul Awal.

The CEC expressed his hope that there would be gradual improvement in the
election field as few days are left for the election. He said, adding, “We
are in touch with the administration so that they can maintain the ground
situation strictly.”

“We are putting emphasis on voter turnout. Designated polling agents will
stay at polling centres so that no unauthorized person can enter the centres.
If the media can capture any photo of irregularities from outside or inside
the centres and publish it, we will welcome their effort,” he added.

Habibul Awal was hopeful that if the transparency of the election process is
ensured, the credibility of the polls will increase and the chance of
creating wrong perception will decline.

The CEC said that in the meeting, the NHRC chairman highlighted the issues of
human rights during the election.

Dr Kamal believes that exercise of voting rights, getting elected through
vote and to elect public representatives are the fundamental human rights,
Habibul Awal said, adding, “He (Dr Kamal) wanted to help us. We will
cooperate in this regard”.

-BSS.