The United States in a statement yesterday said it had widespread credible evidence that vote-rigging, intimidation and violence occurred in the city corporation election.
“We are disappointed by widespread, first-hand, and credible reports of vote-rigging, intimidation and violence that have occurred at polling stations today and BNP’s decision to boycott the polls,” said the statement issued by the US Embassy in Dhaka.
British High Commissioner Robert Gibson also expressed his disappointment at BNP’s election boycott.
US Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat and the British envoy visited several polling centres in the city yesterday.
The US Embassy statement said it was important that irregularities be investigated transparently and impartially, and it called on all parties involved to work within the law and avoid violence at all costs.
“We condemn in the strongest terms any use of violence for political objectives,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the US ambassador after visiting Banani Bidyaniketon centre at noon expressed her disappointment at the violence taken place in different centres in Dhaka and Chittagong.
“It is very disappointing to learn that there has been violence at the polling stations elsewhere in the two cities. It’s very disappointing,” she said.
“All Bangladesh’s friends are looking forward to the results of these elections.”
About the absence of polling agents of the oppositions in different centres, she said: “This will be for the Election Commission to look into. The government promised free and fair elections today and that is what people are expecting.”
Meanwhile, a British High Commission statement said Robert Gibson hoped that the BNP’s decision to boycott the polls would not result in violence or disruption in Dhaka and Chittagong over the next few days.
All parties must ensure that their responses to the events remain within the law, the statement added.
“It will be important that all allegations of irregularity are investigated swiftly and impartially.”
Those candidates who are successful in being elected should seek to serve the needs and wishes of all the voters in both cities, it said.
