UN asks for probe into allegations of rigging in city polls

The United Nations (UN) has called for a probe into BNP’s allegations of rigging during the city corporation polls in Dhaka and Chittagong.

UN secretary general’s spokesperson Farhan Huq said that Ban Ki-moon also hoped that the opposition in Bangladesh will raise their concerns in a democratic manner.

“The UN secretary general is aware about the BNP pulling out of the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls.

He has asked relevant authorities to look into the allegations of rigging. He also hopes that the opposition will use the democratic institutions to raise its concerns,” reads a written statement provided to bdnews24.com by Huq.

The UN chief has reiterated his call to Bangladesh politicians to look for a solution out of the present situation, said his spokesperson.

The UK and US has also made similar calls and asked political parties to abide by law in the post-city poll scenario.

Statements issued by the missions of the countries in Bangladesh also expressed their disappointments over BNP boycotting the polls.

Voting in the three city corporations—Dhaka North, South and Chittagong—was rather peaceful in the first hour since 8am Tuesday, when polls started.

But things started to change after that. Complains of irregularities started to pour in from BNP-backed candidates.

At 12pm, just after four hours of voting, the BNP boycotted the three city polls alleging ‘widespread rigging’.

Flanked by BNP-backed Dhaka North and South mayor candidates, the party’s senior leader Moudud Ahmad told a press conference that the elections had been reduced to a ‘farce’.

“This is not an election at all. We are boycotting the polls, because it is a mockery of democracy.”

The party endorsed mayor candidates alleged that their polling agents were either not allowed to enter or have been thrown out of the voting centres.

They also alleged pro-Awami League elements of capturing polling booths and stuffing stamped ballots in boxes.

Earlier on Tuesday, BNP-backed mayor candidate in Chittagong M Manjur Alam also made similar allegations and boycotted the poll, saying this was his last election.