No irregularities in city polls, BNP pulled out dramatically to stir fresh troubles, says Awami League’s Hanif

The city corporation elections have been ‘peacefully’ held, says an Awami League leader, despite the boycotts by BNP-backed runners.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 April 2015, 10:48 AM
Updated : 28 April 2015, 01:23 PM

The ruling party’s Joint General Secretary Mahbub-Ul Alam Hanif made the claim at a briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

At noon, the BNP alleged massive rigging and pulled out while the elections were being held in Chittagong and Dhaka city corporations.

Hanif said the BNP foresaw ‘imminent defeat’ and left the polls in a ‘dramatic fashion’. 

It was an ‘ill attempt to start another violent movement,’ he claimed.

“The BNP created drama to leave this election. They have no specific allegations. They were not able to cite a single case of irregularities”

BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed speaking to reporters at the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters said, “You can’t call this an election. We reject this voter-less election … we are boycotting this … it is a mockery of democracy.”

Tabith Awal, BNP’s mayor aspirant for North Dhaka, and Afroza Abbas, wife to the party’s mayor candidate for South Dhaka Mirza Abbas, were seated next to him.

BNP’s polling agents were barred from entering voting centres soon after the polls opened in the morning, said Afroza. Her husband’s agents were stopped from entering 35 centres in South Dhaka, she added.

“BNP leaders and activists are not working for their party because of their misdeeds in the past three months. That is why it is in no position to have polling agents. This is intentional.” 

“The elections are being held peacefully. So go cast your vote in this festive environment.”

The BNP’s polling agents were not seen present in several voting centres at Dhaka and Chittagong.

A video captured in a Siddheshwari voting centre at South Dhaka showed rigging in favour of a ruling party-backed councillor.

bdnews24.com reporter spotted a presiding officer at Old Dhaka stamping ballots for the ruling party-candidate for South Dhaka Sayeed Khokon.