Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah has issued a stern warning that no gathering or loitering will be tolerated within the boundaries of polling stations on election day.

The Commissioner made these remarks during an exchange of views with the Law Enforcement Cell and the Vigilance and Observation Team at the Noakhali Deputy Commissioner's conference room on Tuesday (January 27).

Immediate Action Against Obstructions
Emphasizing the need for a peaceful environment, the Commissioner instructed officials to distinguish between genuine voters and those intending to disrupt the process.

"The election should be festive," Sanaullah stated. "You must understand the difference between election festivities and a crowd gathered to block the vote. Immediate action must be taken based on that understanding."

He further reiterated the commission's commitment to delivering a fair, beautiful, and acceptable election, stressing that there would be "no compromise" on the quality of the polls.

Leveraging Local Intelligence
The Election Commissioner called for seamless coordination among all personnel and urged the use of grassroots intelligence to maintain security.

• Local Oversight: He highlighted that Village Police and Ansar-VDP members are well-aware of local dynamics, including the presence of illegal weapons or outsiders.
• Source Utilization: Officers were directed to utilize these local sources to preempt any security threats.

Strict Protocol for Postal Ballots
Addressing concerns over postal ballots, Sanaullah announced a high-tech approach to prevent fraud:

• Restricted Access: No one is permitted to enter the postal ballot opening room with a pen.
• Live Verification: Ballots must undergo live verification. "If a ballot is not verified by the voter, it will not be accepted. It must be a live verification, or the vote will not be counted," he clarified.

The Commissioner concluded by describing the current electoral process as the result of a "long-standing demand and dream," asserting that it must not be allowed to fail.