BNP on Thursday alleged that the voting in the by-election to the mayor post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) was "actually held on Wednesday night," determining the fate of a particular person.
"The election results were determined last night (Wednesday night). Ballots were stuffed in favour of the ruling party nominated (mayoral) candidate. Now just formalities are being completed, and the predetermined results will be announced at the end of the day," said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He was speaking at a press conference at BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters.
Voting in the by-election to the mayor post of DNCC and in 36 wards of Dhaka north and south city corporations began around 8am and ended at 4pm.
Rizvi said an uneasy calm has been prevailing in the capital city on the election day.
"Election is usually a festival in our country, but there was no enthusiasm and excitement among people, only silence.”
He alleged that the government had destroyed the democratic environment with its “autocratic” rule.
About CEC KM Nurul Huda's comment that low voter turnout was not the liability of the commission, Rizvi said the CEC had apparently admitted that the commission has no acceptability to the country's people and political parties.
The BNP leader said the current Commission only deserves people's condemnation, not appreciation for the incidents of ballot stuffing the night before the voting and vote rigging.
