Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The incidents of vote rigging, irregularities, violence, intimidation were the key points that prevailed in different centres of the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations elections on Tuesday.
The much-expected Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation went to polls today to elect three mayors with a bunch of councilors.
The voting in the three city corporations continued till 4:00pm beginning from 8 in the morning.
But the widespread incidents of vote rigging, stamping ballot papers, stuffing of ballot boxes, intimidation and threatening of BNP-endorsed candidates, barring BNP polling agents from entering the polling centres, casting fake votes are the key allegations raised by the BNP.
The BNP during press briefing declared to boycott the polls bringing those allegations and terming it farcical after a couples of hours the voting continued.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed during an official briefing to inform the nation on the polling situation, expressed his gratitude to all for helping him in holding the election what he termed as “free and fair”.
On the other hand, the United States expressed disappointment over the widespread reports of vote-rigging, intimidation and violence that took place during the elections.
In a press statement, the US also uttered disappointment over BNP’s decision to boycott the city corporation polls.
All three BNP-endorsed mayoral candidates – Mirza Abbas, Tabith Awal and Majur Alam – and independent candidate Zonayed Saki withdrew or boycotted the election on the basis of the allegations.
In the statement, the US said also urged for the proper investigation of the allegations, saying: “It is important that irregularities be investigated transparently and impartially, and we call on all parties involved to work within the law and avoid violence at all costs.”
Like the CEC, the ruling party top-ups also expressed their satisfaction with the way the election was held, defying the extensive criticism flooded in the social media.