BNP-backed Chittagong mayor candidate demands change of counting centre

The BNP-endorsed mayoral candidate has proposed three alternatives to Chattagram Zila Krira Sangstha (CZKS) Gymnasium as a centre for counting votes in city corporation polls.

M Manjur Alam’s chief election agent and the party’s city unit chief Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury submitted the proposal to the returning officer on Tuesday.
 
They proposed Chittagong Circuit House, ground floor of Damparha Jamiatul Falah Mosque and City Corporation Gymnasium at Panchlaish United Nations Park as possible venues for the announcement of results.
 
Chowdhury said though the results had been announced at the gymnasium, adjacent to MA Aziz stadium, earlier, this time the situation was different.
 
CZKS General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin is the ruling Awami League-backed candidate, he pointed out.
 
“The shopkeepers there are followers of that candidate. The shops in the area were allotted to those loyal to the ruling party,” he said.
 
He questioned the rationality and security of counting votes there.
 
“And so we have proposed alternative places to the returning officer,” Chowdhury said.
 
The city unit chief of the BNP said there was a possibility that the counting of votes would not be impartial and someone would interfere.
 
He also alleged that Returning Officer Abdul Baten was a supporter of the ruling party-backed mayor candidate.
 
“Police have attacked supporters of the BNP-backed candidate in several areas of the city,” he said.
 
Law-enforcing agencies made a special list of BNP activists to arrest and harass them, he further alleged.
 
Returning Officer Baten assured Chowdhury of taking ‘appropriate steps’ over the matter.

Chowdhury said no action had been taken against the Awami League-backed mayor candidate or his supporters though they allegedly breached the election code of conduct several times.
 
“We have submitted 15 written complaints but do not see any effective move by the election commissioner,” he said.
 
The EC’s role was still ‘questionable’, he said.
 
Referring to the attack on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s motorcade in Dhaka on Monday, Chowdhury said the government lost faith in people.
 
“They (ruling Awami League) are resorting to criminal activities,” he said.
 
He also said people were apprehensive about how free and fair the elections would be if the rule of law did not prevail.
 
Returning Officer Baten said CZKS gymnasium was selected for the announcement of result considering security, communication facility and overall environment.
 
“We’ll consider the BNP-backed candidate’s proposal to change the venue. It will be decided in the law-and-order meeting on Wednesday after visiting the proposed venues,” he said.
 
About the BNP’s allegation of violation of code of conduct, he said, “We are taking steps over all the allegations we get after investigating them.”