Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed said on Monday that situation does not exist for deployment of the armed forces in the election to four city corporations scheduled for June 15.

"I have been to Khulna on Sunday to oversee the overall situation prevailing in the city corporation election there. I had discussion with the election officials and candidates on the law and order situation and other matters relating to election," he said adding: "They apprised me that situation was not created there as yet to deploy the armed forces."

The CEC said this replying to a question shot by journalists at the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat in the city.

Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed told reporters that adequate number of law enforcers would be deployed in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet City Corporations for holding of free, fair, peaceful and neutral elections.

He added that the members of the Coast Guard would also be deployed during elections in Barisal and Khulna City Corporations. Besides, the CEC said that the members of RAB, police and BGB would discharge their duties as mobile and striking forces during the elections in four city corporations.

Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed said a greater number of the law enforcers would be deployed in the sensitive polling centres while the mobile and striking forces would remain specially vigilant in these centres.

He said the EC has already opened four monitoring cells in four city corporations and the EC Secretariat has been monitoring overall activities in those cities.

Replying to another question, the CEC said the EC has not given any concessions to anybody regarding the election code of conduct and the returning officers have already been given instructions and they will go for legal steps in this regard.

When asked whether the statement of Petrobangla chairman Dr Hossain Mansur while introducing natural gas connection in the areas of Rajshahi City Corporation on Friday went against the election code of conduct, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed said the returning officer concerned has already been instructed to serve show cause notice on Petrobangla chairman. The decision in this regard would be taken on receiving his reply, he added.

Earlier, a seven-member parliamentary team of BNP led by its joint secretary general Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon lodged a written complaint against Petrobangla chairman for providing gas connection in Rajshahi city on Friday.

In the complaint, the BNP team demanded punitive measure against Dr Hossain Mansur for violating the election code of conduct.

Ends/AMA/10/06/13