Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal today said the upazila parishad elections must be held in a free and fair manner at any cost.

“We have to prove that Bangladesh has democracy and that’s why we must hold the upazila polls free and fair,” he said. The CEC made this remark while exchanging views on the law and order situation with field administrations ahead of the upazila polls at Nirbachon Bhaban at Agargaon in the city.

“If we fail to hold free and fair upazila polls, the democratic continuity which has been established after the parliamentary elections on January 7 would be tarnished,” Awal said.

There might be some chaos in any election, but measures should be taken so that the voters can cast their vote without any trouble, said the CEC, drawing attention of all the deputy commissioners (DCs) and police supers who attended the meeting.

The CEC also gave directives to the field level administrative officials so that the upazila polls are without any violence.