Bangladesh
Gaibandha By-polls EC suspends Gaibandha-5-by-polls
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, Oct 13: The Election Commission (EC) has completely suspended the polling of the Gaibandha-5 by-polls following multiple allegations of irregularities and rigging.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said this to reporters at the Agargaon election building in the capital on Wednesday (October 12) afternoon.
Regarding the suspension of polling, the Chief Election Commissioner said, "According to the rules, polling starts at 8 am. We have made an observation room in the election building for election observation. CCTV cameras were installed in the polling stations. We were monitoring the election."
Addressing the journalists, CEC said, "You also joined us at one time. you have seen we have monitored from the beginning, irregularities in polling. In many centres we have seen illegal intrusion into secret polling booths. Assisting or forcing voters to vote by entering illegally. We have clearly noticed this. That is not the rule. We have seen that the polling agents may have printed the election symbol on their clothes, which is against the rules of election conduct."
He further said, "We have been continuously monitoring it since 8 am. None of us left the room. Irregularities and illegal activities are rampant. As a result, we have suspended polling in three polling stations first. After that, I closed 16 centers and then 12 more centers in the third phase. I left the observation room at 12:30 after closing the polls of a total of 43 centers including how many in the fourth phase and three more in the last phase. We have assigned the officers. At that time, I noticed that CCTV was closed in many of our centers. As a result, I could not collect information."
Kazi Habibul Awal said, "Later we closed seven more polling stations in the context of monitoring by the officials. A total of 50 polling stations were closed. Besides, the returning officer also closed the polling in a polling station. All the members of the commission sit and review and analyze the matter. We are sure, if the polling of 50 centers is closed, judging the environment of the remaining centers, there will not be a proper assessment."
"We feel that the polling has gone out of control. A party or a rival candidate can influence. As a result, it seems to us, impartially fair polling is not taking place. After the closure of polling in 51 centres, we have decided to review the laws and regulations, according to the responsibility given to the Election Commission in Article 91 of the RPO. Voting is suspended," he added.
