Dhaka, Feb 28 (UNB) – BNP on Thursday alleged that the voting in the by-election to the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) was “actually held on Wednesday night” determining the fate of a particular person.
“The election results were determined last night (Wednesday night). Ballots were stuffed in favour of the ruling party nominated (mayoral) candidate. Now just formalities are being completed, and the results will be announced at the end of the day,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
Voting in the by-election to the mayoral post of DNCC and in 36 wards of Dhaka north and south city corporations began around 8am and ended at 4pm.
Bringing the allegation of vote ‘robbery’ in 11th parliamentary election, BNP and some other parties did not join the polls.
Rizvi said an uneasy calm has been prevailing in the capital city though the by-polls were holding here. “Election is usually a festival in our country, but there’s no enthusiasm and excitement among people. There’s no competition as only silence is everywhere here.”
He alleged that the government has destroyed the democratic completion and anticipation with its ‘autocratic’ rule.
About Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda’s comment that low voter turnout in the ongoing elections to the two city corporations is not the liability of the Commission, Rizvi said the CEC apparently admitted that the Commission has no acceptability to the country’s people and political parties.
He said the CEC has deprived the voters of their right to franchise during the December-30 national election. “The CEC played the main role in plunging the country into a deep crisis by installing an illegal government through a mega festival of vote rigging on December 30.”
The BNP leader said the current Commission only deserves people’s condemnation, not appreciation for the incidents of ballot stuffing the night before the voting and vote rigging.
