Observer praises EC on Rangpur city polls

The Election Working Group or EWG has praised the Election Commission for presiding over a peaceful and fair Rangpur City Corporation election.

“The election was held without violence or irregularities,” EWG President Abdul Alim said at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday. “Overall the election was peaceful and credible.”

“The Election Commission was able to conduct election activities with skill and professionalism while maintaining security. Voters participated of their own volition.”

Though few local complaints emerged in the Rangpur city elections on Thursday, the BNP claims the EC did not ensure a fair election.

The Awami League candidate and incumbent mayor lost out to the Jatiya Party candidate during the election. The BNP came in third.

Voters queue at a polling station during Rangpur City Corporation election on Thursday.

The EWG, formed in 2006, called on the EC to maintain the standards for the Rangpur polls in the upcoming national election.

The organisation said that the trial use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the election was satisfactory and encouraged the devices to be introduced to voters.

“The EVMs were used at one polling centre. There were no problems aside from the machine ‘hanging’ for a brief period of time.”

“But the people are not yet confident in the machines. We recommend that efforts be made to raise awareness among voters regarding this new voting mechanism and convince them of its reliability.”

The EVMs were available at six booths in the polling centre.

The EWG also praised the way in which the polling centres were opened and closed, the vote counting process and the ways in which the participation of women and disabled voters was ensured.