The newly appointed senior secretary to the Public Administration Ministry, Ahsanul Haq, today said he has taken responsibility to ensure that the field administration acts neutrally during the upcoming general election.
"We, the officers of the administration, can conduct the election impartially if we are given the scope," he said while speaking to reporters at his office.
Asked about the security of voting centers, he said the ministry would coordinate with its counterpart in the Home Ministry.
"Law and order are not a problem. If people want a neutral election, it is possible to hold one," he added.
Responding to a query about his predecessors' assurances of a neutral election that did not materialise, Ahsanul Haq said, "You know better than I why it did not happen... In some centre 1991, I held election with one Ansar and the elections were conducted in free and fair manners."
He said that if the field officers get appropriate atmosphere and scope to work independently, they will be able to hold polls neutrally. "If the field administration does not work neutrally, we will take action," he said adding the officers inclined to any political party will be out of the election duties.
Asked about the possible transfer of deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers before the election, the senior secretary said they have to take the decision in consultation with the policy makers.
The government has appointed Ahsanul Haq, who was serving on contract as senior secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, as senior secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration (MoPA).
FP/MI
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