CEC says no one told him about irregularities in city vote as rigging charges fly

The chief election commissioner has said voting in Dhaka and Chittagong city polls took place peacefully other than some ‘isolated incidents’ and urged all to accept ‘whatever the results are’.

In his first post-polls press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad claimed the elections were marked by ‘massive voter presence’.

The CEC said he and other election commissioners had received no complaints of irregularities, interference and obstruction to voters during their visits to centres in Dhaka North and South and Chittagong city corporations.

“I myself talked to voters at several booths in two polling centres. Nobody complained about any irregularities.

“Nobody even said that they faced any obstruction to movement. Foreign diplomats described the election as fair after visiting polling centres,” he added.

Ahmad, however, could not provide any information on the voter turnout rate. He said the commission will know the rate on Wednesday after vote counting ended.

He said it was a huge task to stage polls simultaneously in three city corporations.

“Some isolated incidents happened. Instant actions were taken (over those).”

The CEC said the presiding officers stopped voting at three centres in Dhaka South as situation went beyond control.

He said voting was suspended at several other centres but resumed after the situation returned to normal.

The BNP-endorsed Chittagong mayor aspirant M Manjur Alam announced boycott of the vote and his retirement from politics at a press conference around 11am, alleging massive rigging.

An hour later, BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed announced they were pulling out of the polls alleging widespread irregularities.

He was flanked by Dhaka North mayor aspirant Tabith Mohammed Awal and Dhaka South candidate Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas.

“It’s no election. It cannot be called election. We’re rejecting these voter-less polls... We’re boycotting these polls. It’s a mockery of democracy,” he said.

The BNP alleged their polling agents were either barred from entering centres or forced out.

The party said pro-government people captured polling centres and cast fake votes for their candidates.

bdnews24.com correspondents witnessed casting of fake votes by pro-government activists at several centres in Dhaka North and South city corporations during their visits.

Voting was interrupted at several centres due to clashes between Awami League-backed councillor aspirants and rebel candidates.

The CEC addressed the press conference around 5:30pm at his office after voting took place from 8am to 4pm.

He said vote counting was going on and thanked voters, candidates, law-enforcing agencies and relevant others for helping the election to be organised peacefully and in a festive manner.

Ahmad announced the law enforces would remain posted for one more day to get the situation back to normal.

He urged the candidates to accept the polls results.