BNP alleges massive rigging

The BNP alleged that there were ‘rampant invasion’ of polling centres during third phase of Upazila Parishad elections on Saturday.

The party and its allies are ahead in the local government body polls after the first two phases.

Soon after the voting at 81 Upazilas ended on Saturday, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press briefing alleged votes were massively rigged.

“The number of voting centres that were invaded this time is higher than the last two phases. After forcefully occupying these centres ballots were stamped.”

“Carnival of invading polling centres took place to snatch away victory from the people.”

Rizvi also said the Election Commission (EC) did not take any steps to stop that even after it was informed of every incident.

The BNP levelled several allegations of foul play since the start of the balloting. Regarding that, Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz had asked them to make specific allegation.

The party on Saturday alleged that ruling Awami League leaders and activists with assistance from local administration had occupied voting centres at Feni’s Dagonbhuiyan, Barisal’s Muladi and Babuganj, Narail’s Lohagorha, Rajshahi’s Durgapur and Charghat, Bagerhat’s Sadar, Mongla, Rampal, Sharankhola and Morelganj, Mymensingh’s Muktagacha, Netrokona Sadar, Jessore’s Manirampur, Comilla’s Nangolkot and Chouddogram, Shariatpur Sadar, Pirojpur Sadar, Chittagong’s Sitakunda, Kurigram Sadar and Chuadanga’s Damurhuda Upazilas.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “We want to make it clear that this will not be of any help.”

The BNP leader was briefing the press at the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters on the Upazila-poll situations in 41 districts that went to poll on Saturday.