Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury, chief election agent of BNP-backed mayoral candidate M Manjur Alam, has requested the authorities of the election commission in Chittagong to change the centre for announcing the results of the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls.
The polls to the city corporation are scheduled to be held on April 28.
Proposing three alternative venues, Khasru, also an adviser to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, submitted a proposal to the CCC poll's Returning Officer (RO) Md Abdul Baten around 3:30pm on Tuesday.
He proposed to set up the centre at Chittagong Circuit House, or United Nation Park’s gymnasium in Chawkbazar, or at the ground floor of Jamiyatul Falah Mosque.
Like past elections, the commission was ready to announce the results from MA Aziz Stadium’s gymnasium.
But it would not be fair to set up the centre at the stadium as the Awami League (AL)-backed Nagarik Committee’s mayoral candidate AJM Nasir is the present general secretary of Chittagong Jila Krira Sanstha (CJKS), said Khashru.
“As the ruling party-backed candidate is the authorised person to control the stadium area, the announcement of results is not expected to be fair at the venue,” he said.
Moreover, most of the officials and staff of the CJKS and the stadium are involved with the ruling party’s politics and they are working in favour of ruling party-backed AJM Nasir, he claimed.
RO Abdul Baten, however, told the BNP leader that they need a very secure place to count the votes of the 719 polling centres.
“We have already directed the law enforcement agencies to seal off the stadium and its surrounding areas from April 24 to secure the whole place, while the CJKS office would be closed,” he said.
During the vote couting inside the stadium, entry will be restricted and there is no chance to influence the election results during the announcement, he added.
The stadium is the first choice for announcing results considering the security measures, said Baten.
They would consider other places and the decision would be finalised after holding meetings with the law enforcing agencies, he said.
Meanwhile, Khashru accused that police and plainclothes DB men have been issuing threats to their ward level leaders and activists by making a list of those who have been playing an active role in the election campaigns.
“It is part of a conspiracy as the government has been sensing the defeat of its candidate,” he said.
Criticising Road and Transport Minister Obaidul Kader’s frequent visits to Chittagong city, the BNP Chairperson Adviser said the minister made comments relating the election. violating the election code of conduct.