Election observer EWG finds irregularities at 46% Gazipur polls centres

A platform of election observer groups says they found some kind of irregularities at over 46 percent of the centres it monitored during Tuesday’s Gazipur City Corporation polls.

The Election Working Group briefs the media on their observation on the just-concluded Gazipur City Corporation polls at a press conference at the National Press Club on Thursday. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi The Election Working Group briefs the media on their observation on the just-concluded Gazipur City Corporation polls at a press conference at the National Press Club on Thursday. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

At a news conference in Dhaka on Thursday, Election Working Group came up with an initial statement on the vote won by ruling Awami League candidate Zahangir Alam.

The BNP has the polls be revoked, alleging widespread rigging, but the Election Commission said the voting was largely fair.

The commission postponed election at nine centres over incidents like snatching of ballot boxes and stuffing of ballot papers by force. It said there was no irregularity at the 416 other centres.

Abdul Alim, a director of the EWG, said they found 159 incidents of irregularities at 46.5 percent of the 129 centres they watched.

Most of these incidents occurred after 12pm, he said. The voting was held from 8am to 4pm.  

“These included stuffing of ballot papers by force, campaigning within 400 yards of the stations and presence of unauthorised people at the centres,” Alim said.

The EWG workers saw the Awami League agents at 97 percent centres and the BNP agents at 81 percent.

The EC has earned plaudits over elections to Cumilla and Rangpur city corporations, won by the BNP and Jatiya Party candidates respectively.

After the recent election to Khulna City Corporation, the EWG said there were irregularities, but not so much that could tilt the results of the race for mayor post.

“The margin of irregularities has increased in Gazipur,” Alim said, comparing it with the recent civic elections.