DHAKA  – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda today urged the judicial magistrates to perform their duty neutrally in the upcoming general election.

“You’ve to perform electoral duties applying your merits irrespective of any party, views and individuals. You are free and neutral as you are judges. You have to apply your judicious minds,” he said while addressing a three-day
briefing for the judicial magistrates at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.

Huda said the Election Commission (EC) wants to hold a credible election as it is accountable to the nation, the constitution, political parties as well as the country’s people for holding a fair election.

He said more than 600 judicial magistrates will perform their duty from December 29 to January 1 to ensure suitable atmosphere during the polls.

Election Commissioners Mahbub Alam, Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Brigadier General (retd) Shahadat Hossain and EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed also spoke at the briefing.

Mahbub Alam said the Commission expects active role from the judicial magistrates during the election. “If anyone shows negligence in performing his/her duty and plays biased role during the election, steps will be taken against his or her as per the act of 1991,” he added.

A total of 215 judicial magistrates took part in the briefing today. A total of 640 magistrates will be briefed in three phases.