Dhaka, Apr 1 – The Election Working Group (EWG) of Bangladesh, a 29-member national coalition of civil society organizations, in its observation has said that the Comilla City Corporation election was a good start for the new Election Commission despite a few incidents of irregularities and violence.“Despite a small number of observed incidents of malpractice, irregularities, and violence, EWG evaluates the Comilla City Corporation Election as a good start for the 12th Election Commission led by KM Nurul Huda,” said EWG in its preliminary observation report.
EWG Director Md Abdul Alim read out the report at a press conference in the city’s Cirdap auditorium on Saturday, while EWG members Prof Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah and Md Abdul Awal were present.
“The Election Working Group (EWG) found the Comilla City Corporation Election to be generally without major incident, though there were scattered incidents of violence and attempts of ballot stuffing in the afternoon,” said EWG.
The platform of election observers said they observed that the voter turnout was 62.7 percent.
The report said polling officials were generally neutral, voting was undertaken in an efficient and professional manner, and voters were able to cast their votes in an orderly manner.
Out of 103 polling stations, the EWG observed 38 polling stations covering 26 wards in Comilla City Corporation election.
Violence took place inside one polling station, outside four polling stations, and three men were detained during the balloting, the report said. – UNB
