Chief election commissioner claims polls violence, irregularities lessen

The chief election commissioner has claimed that the third-leg union council voting was “comparatively peaceful” than the previous two phases.

“Though irregularities and violence have taken place during the third-phase polls, number of such incidents has come down,” Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told a press conference on Saturday evening.

Elections were held in 614 unions under 48 districts on Saturday in the third leg of the six-phase union council elections.

Voting was stalled at 24 centres following complaints of irregularities and violence.

The CEC claimed the polls were held in a peaceful manner with no reports of loss of lives and property.

He came up with the claim after the BNP alleged ‘widespread’ irregularities and rigging and accused the Commission of playing the role of a puppet.

Ahmad said, “Positive changes were witnessed in this phase of voting. I hope the next phases of elections will be held peacefully and without any violence.”

He said stricter action would be taken to bring violence and irregularities to zero level.

Over 40 people were killed and more than a thousand injured in the poll-related violence in the last two and a half months.

The CEC held ‘political intolerance’ responsible for the election violence and urged all to end the situation.

Election Commissioners Abu Hafiz and Md Shah Nawaz and EC Secretary Md Sirazul Islam were present at the press conference.