Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday warned that incidents similar to the lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Das could occur again if preventive measures are not strengthened, stressing the urgent need to protect sectarian harmony and law and order.
Referring to the lynching of Dipu Das and subsequent burning the body in Mymensingh, the CEC said a Hindu youth was brutally burnt to death, and such incidents could be repeated unless decisive steps are taken. “There is a possibility of many such incidents. Measures must be taken to ensure they do not happen again. Communal harmony must be protected at all costs,” he said.
The CEC made the remarks while speaking at a view-sharing meeting with deputy commissioners (DCs), superintendents of police (SPs), divisional commissioners and regional election officers at the Nirbachan Bhaban auditorium in Agargaon on Tuesday, December 23.
At the outset of the meeting, Nasir Uddin prayed for the departed soul of Sharif Osman Hadi, who was killed in a shooting, and expressed deep condolences to his bereaved family.
Dipu Das was killed in a mob attack in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, on December 18 after being accused of insulting Islam.
However, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) later said no evidence was found to substantiate claims regarding when or where Dipu had insulted religion.
Welcoming assurances from DCs and SPs regarding maintaining law and order, the CEC said the commitments had reassured him.
“My confidence has grown after hearing your words. Ensuring a fair and peaceful election for the country and the nation is one of my main agendas. With your cooperation, it will be possible. Do not work with any bias,” he urged officials.
Emphasising the role of election officials, Nasir Uddin said returning officers and assistant returning officers were the most important figures in the electoral process. “For us, there are two VVIPs – one is the returning officer and the other is the assistant returning officer. If there were a provision, I would have officially declared them VVIPs,” he remarked.
The CEC also expressed concern over violations of the election code of conduct, particularly the unchecked display of posters in Dhaka. “We see the city covered with posters, but we do not see them being removed on time,” he said.
Noting that the Election Commission has increasingly become a venue for lodging complaints, he stressed the need to inform people about proper complaint mechanisms. “There should be a designated complaint centre. From there, complaints must be forwarded to the magistrate concerned,” he added.
The meeting, chaired by EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, was attended by other election commissioners, senior EC officials, representatives of the field administration and police, the inspector general of police (IGP) and the cabinet secretary.