Election Commissioner Md Alamgir expressed his utmost satisfaction with how the Gazipur City Corporation election turned out on Thursday.
“We are all extremely pleased with the situation. Everyone, including the media, yourself, the voters and the candidates, have expressed their satisfaction,” Md Alamgir told journalists in the evening.
"Law enforcement agencies, returning officers, electoral officers and our own observers of the Election Commission all reported that the Gazipur City election was extremely smooth and peaceful,” Alamgir said, adding that the mayoral candidates participating in the election expressed their satisfaction with the overall management as well.
“Every candidate said that the election was fair and agreed to accept whatever the result may be,” the EC added.
Alamgir stated that he could not comment on the percentage of votes cast at the time, but expressed hope that it would be at least 50%.
In response to a question about voting extending beyond 6pm in some places, potentially due to the slowness of the EVMs, Alamgir said: "If any voter is present at a polling booth at the closing time of the election, voting must continue until their votes are recorded. This rule applies to both paper ballots and EVMs. Some people may have had difficulties using EVMs, which could have caused a delay."
About monitoring the whole election through CCTV cameras, he explained that the initiative to install CCTV cameras and monitor through those cameras has deterred people from committing wrongdoings.
“As we were monitoring, we were able to take action wherever we caught any irregularity. This is what you should consider a success,” he added.
In response to a question concerning the potential use of CCTV cameras in the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Election Commissioner stated it was too early to confirm such details.
Saarc observer: Polls held peacefully
Saarc Human Rights Foundation Secretary General Prof Mowlana Mohammad Abed Ali, who observed the election, said voting ended peacefully without any incident as the Election Commission held the polls without bias.
The GCC election is a very vital one as not only Bangladeshi but also people from abroad are observing it, he said.
“Moreover, what I observed among law enforcement agencies was that they were sincere in maintaining law and order.”
He thanked the Election Commission and law enforcement for their vigilance as they presented a peaceful election.
“I visited 42 centres and talked to 30 people. Regarding EVMs, candidates and their supporters said there is no need to give agents as there are EVMs,” said Abed Ali.
“There were no irregularities anywhere in the election. In this year's election, we feel that people were participating in the vote with enthusiasm.”
The election observer also said he had information that 40% of the votes were cast till 2pm.
There was a festive mood among people outside the polling station. Voters cast their own votes entering the polling booths. This was a common scenario of 42 polling booths, added the election observer.
Our Gazipur Correspondent Md Raihanul Islam Akand contributed to this report
