The Election Commission (EC) Bangladesh asked the home ministry on April 21 to ensure safe voting environment for women, minority communities and the poor during the forthcoming city corporation election. It was a positive response of EC of a memorandum submitted by Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS) to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) earlier for creating safe environment for women, minority community and poor citizens. A five member’s team, led by BNPS Executive Director Ms. Rokeya Kabir, placed the memorandum following a meeting with the CEC on 13 April, 2015. In response to the memorandum of BNPS a letter signed by Assistant Secretary M Rajib Ahsan of EC Secretariat was sent to the senior secretary of home ministry in this regard. He also attached a copy of BNPS memorandum with his letter to the home ministry.

The EC letter has instructed the home ministry to create equal opportunities and a fear-free environment for women, minority communities and the poor citizens for voting in Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong city corporation election which is going to be held on April 28.

The EC also directed the home ministry to maintain caution over the issues of concern expressed by BNPS in its application about the attacks by “identified vested interest groups” on minority communities, women and poor citizens before and after polls in the past and sought preventive measures.