Two polling stations record over 90% turnout in Gazipur city elections

Two polling stations have witnessed more than 90 percent voter turnout while the rate has stayed above 80 percent in 24 stations in the Gazipur City Corporation polls held on Tuesday.

Moinul Hoque Chowdhurybdnews24.com
Published : 28 June 2018, 09:19 AM
Updated : 4 July 2018, 10:58 AM

On the other hand, one centre recorded as low as 25.84 percent turnout, according to the results provided by the Election Commission on Thursday.

The overall turnout stands at 58 percent in the Gazipur election slightly marred by alleged irregularities and rigging. In the 2013 election, the voter turnout was 68 percent.

In the Khulna City Corporation polls in May, three of the 286 polling stations counted an abnormal turnout of 91.38 percent, 97.6 percent and 99.94 percent.

Awami League-backed candidate Zahangir Alam won the Gazipur mayoral polls, defeating his rival from the BNP camp, Hasan Uddin Sarker, by a big margin.

Alam bagged 400,010 votes and Sarker 197,611 votes, according to the tally from 416 out of the 425 centres.

However, the EC, the ruling party and the elected mayor claimed the overall atmosphere of the election was peaceful and cheerful.

In a sharp contrast to the claim, the BNP alleged that the Gazipur election atmosphere was a grand carnival of fake votes and full of irregularities.

Expressing satisfaction over the polls, EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said the commission showed zero tolerance to the irregularities.

“Voting in nine centres was suspended following allegations of irregularities and rigging. But in the remaining 416 centres, fair and impartial elections have been held. "

Echoing the secretary, Returning Officer Rakib Uddin Mandol told bdnew24.com on Wednesday that it was quite normal to have a 90 percent turnout in two or three centres.

“Turnout normally increases in local elections due to a fierce fight among aspirants.”

On the centre with the lowest turnout, the returning officer said it was not an unusual rate either.

“Industrial areas account for around 60 percent of this city. The percentage might have fallen due to the absence of floating voters and workers after Ramadan.”