Security, presence of agents vital to fair polls: Experts

Free and fair elections cannot be expected without ensuring the security and presence of election agents appointed by the candidates at the polling centres, experts have opined. They expected that the Election Commission (EC) would ensure the security and presence of election agents in the Dhaka city civic polls on January 30 to ensure free and fair polls. The poll agents play a pivotal role in holding free and fair polls from the inception of elections till the announcement of results, they pointed out. The EC should also seriously take the allegations by the candidates that they sometimes cannot appoint their agents or the agents are driven out or prevented by powerful candidates, they opined.

The EC and returning officers of both Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) also admitted that the security and presence of election agents is important for holding free and fair polls.

They said they would ensure the presence of the election agents and would take action against those responsible if they receive complaints of any sort.

EC sources said they would direct

law enforcers to ensure the security

of the poll agents so that they do not face intimidation.

There are provisions in the Representation of the People Order (RPO) to appoint election agents by the candidates. As per Provision 21 of RPO, “A candidate may appoint a person qualified to be elected as a member to be his election agent.”

Even driving out of an election agent from the polling centre by any person is a punishable offence as per the RPO.

According to Provision 81(f)(ii), “A person is guilty of an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall not be less than three years, and also with fine, if he drives out any candidate or his election agent or polling agent from the polling station and compels the polling authorities to proceed with the election work in their absence.”

Provision 23 of the RPO mentions the steps that the returning officer or presiding officer should take in the absence of election agents.

According to the provision, the returning officer or presiding officer shall “immediately try to find out the reason for such absence and record the fact and communicate it to the Commission together with his comments thereon, and shall endeavour to ensure such attendance.”

Talking to The Independent yesterday, former election commissioner Brig. Gen. (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain said: “The

presence of election agents is vital as they identify the voters, observe vote cast, raise questions against rigging, and confirm the counting.”

“There are a plethora of rules and regulations about the functions of agents. It’s the EC’s function to ensure their security at the polling stations so that the agents can carry out their functions without fear and intimidation,” he added. In many cases, candidates complain that their agents have been driven out of the centres, he said, adding, “The EC has to take this matter into consideration and should take immediate action to hold free and fair polls.”

“There are numerous rules and regulations. What is necessary is the implementation of the laws by the EC for holding free, fair, and impartial polls,” he noted. Local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed said: “The security and presence of agents is very important as they observe the entire election process first hand. If they are absent, the centres go under the dominance of other candidates.”

DSCC returning officer Md Abdul Baten said: “The agents play a vital role in holding fair polls. We would ensure their security during the Dhaka city polls. If the agents are intimidated or prevented from entering the centres, we would take action against those responsible persons as per the law.”

He further said they would direct the law enforcers to take the matter seriously to ensure the security of the election agents.

“Why do we recruit law enforcers? Their duty is to ensure the security of the voters, candidates, and agents during elections. We would direct them to protect the election agents,” he added.

He, however, said that sometimes the candidates do not appoint agents at the polling centres. “We would expect that the candidates would appoint their agents in the elections so that they are held without any questions,” he added.

Baten further said that besides ensuring the presence of agents at the poll centres, the EC would train them on the workings of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the city polls. “We are ready to provide training about EVMs to the election agents if the candidates want it,” he added.

Security, presence of agents vital to fair polls: Experts

Free and fair elections cannot be expected without ensuring the security and presence of election agents appointed by the candidates at the polling centres, experts have opined. They expected that the Election Commission (EC) would ensure the security and presence of election agents in the Dhaka city civic polls on January 30 to ensure free and fair polls. The poll agents play a pivotal role in holding free and fair polls from the inception of elections till the announcement of results, they pointed out. The EC should also seriously take the allegations by the candidates that they sometimes cannot appoint their agents or the agents are driven out or prevented by powerful candidates, they opined. The EC and returning officers of both Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) also admitted that the security and presence of election agents is important for holding free and fair polls. They said they would ensure the presence of the election agents and would take action against those responsible if they receive complaints of any sort. EC sources said they would direct law enforcers to ensure the security of the poll agents so that they do not face intimidation. There are provisions in the Representation of the People Order (RPO) to appoint election agents by the candidates. As per Provision 21 of RPO, A candidate may appoint a person qualified to be elected as a member to be his election agent. Even driving out of an election agent from the polling centre by any person is a punishable offence as per the RPO. According to Provision 81(f)(ii), A person is guilty of an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall not be less than three years, and also with fine, if he drives out any candidate or his election agent or polling agent from the polling station and compels the polling authorities to proceed with the election work in their absence. Provision 23 of the RPO mentions the steps that the returning officer or presiding officer should take in the absence of election agents. According to the provision, the returning officer or presiding officer shall immediately try to find out the reason for such absence and record the fact and communicate it to the Commission together with his comments thereon, and shall endeavour to ensure such attendance. Talking to The Independent yesterday, former election commissioner Brig. Gen. (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain said: The presence of election agents is vital as they identify the voters, observe vote cast, raise questions against rigging, and confirm the counting. There are a plethora of rules and regulations about the functions of agents. Its the ECs function to ensure their security at the polling stations so that the agents can carry out their functions without fear and intimidation, he added. In many cases, candidates complain that their agents have been driven out of the centres, he said, adding, The EC has to take this matter into consideration and should take immediate action to hold free and fair polls. There are numerous rules and regulations. What is necessary is the implementation of the laws by the EC for holding free, fair, and impartial polls, he noted. Local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed said: The security and presence of agents is very important as they observe the entire election process first hand. If they are absent, the centres go under the dominance of other candidates. DSCC returning officer Md Abdul Baten said: The agents play a vital role in holding fair polls. We would ensure their security during the Dhaka city polls. If the agents are intimidated or prevented from entering the centres, we would take action against those responsible persons as per the law. He further said they would direct the law enforcers to take the matter seriously to ensure the security of the election agents. Why do we recruit law enforcers? Their duty is to ensure the security of the voters, candidates, and agents during elections. We would direct them to protect the election agents, he added. He, however, said that sometimes the candidates do not appoint agents at the polling centres. We would expect that the candidates would appoint their agents in the elections so that they are held without any questions, he added. Baten further said that besides ensuring the presence of agents at the poll centres, the EC would train them on the workings of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the city polls. We are ready to provide training about EVMs to the election agents if the candidates want it, he added.