Several candidates, mainly those backed by the BNP, made allegations of irregularities in the third phase of upazila parishad polls held yesterday.
In complaints submitted to the Election Commission and returning officers, they claimed that capturing of polling centres by supporters of rival candidates, stuffing fake votes and violence were rampant during the local elections in 81 upazilas.
However, the Election Commission said the polls were held in a totally free, fair and peaceful manner.
“Alhamdulillah (praise to Allah), the third phase polls were held hundred percent free and fair, and the commission is satisfied with holding the polls peacefully. The polls were held properly by Allah’s grace,” acting chief election commissioner Abdul Mobarak told reporters yesterday at the EC media centre in the capital.
Mobarak claimed that the elections were more free, fair and peaceful than previous local polls.
“It is not a question of failure. When holding elections, some stray incidents may take place. The violence cannot be controlled beforehand,” he said.
About assaults on EC officials in Barisal’s Hizla upazila, the commissioner said the perpetrators would not be spared as the attacks were criminal offences.
“The responsible persons will not be spared. They will be brought to justice,” Mobarak said.
However, he added, the commission did not have jurisdiction in investigating criminal offences.
“As per a court order, the commission cannot investigate a criminal offence. The aggrieved person can filetried accordingly,” Mobarak noted.
He said some stray violence had occurred in some upazilas due to personal and political reasons, and the commission suspended voting in those polling centres.
The commission suspended polls at 26 centres in 13 uapzilas, out of a total of 5,444 centres in 81 upazilas, the commissioner said.
The affected centres included four at Kachuan and two at Hajiganj in Chandpur; three at Muktagacha in Mymensingh; three at Hizla in Barisal; three at Nangolkote, one at Titash and two at Chouddagram in Comilla; three at Dagonbhuiyan in Feni; and one each at Charghat (Rajshahi), Kuliachar (Kishoreganj), Monirampur (Jessore), Kamalnagar (Laxmipur) and Bhola sadar.
When asked about interference by ministers and MPs in local polls, Mobarak said the commission was concerned about the issue and took action according to the law, sparing none.
“When I got information that the local MP of Chandais in Chittagong was staying in the area, I talked to him and asked him to leave the upazila in 10 minutes. The MP left the area within that time,” he said.
The commissioner, meanwhile, said it would take more time to hold polls without any violence, “when people become more tolerant.”
Replying to query on why the 2008 parliamentary polls were relatively free of violence, he said, “It may be that people were tolerant at that time. If people are intolerant, violence may erupt.”