Amid increasing complaints of violence and vote rigging, the voter turnout has also increased in the third phase of the fourth upazila parishad polls compared to the last two phases.
Although several BNP backed candidates brought allegations of irregularities against the ruling party backed candidates in the third phase of the polls held on Saturday, the Election Commission was yet to investigate into the complaints and take any step to avoid such incidents in the upcoming phases, said a number of EC officials, seeking anonymity.
Because of commission’s inaction, the rate of violence was high during the third phase, they claimed.
Regarding assault on an assistant returning officer in Barisal’s Hizla upazila, the commission secretariat had proposed forming an investigation committee to look into the incident. However, the commission was yet to take any initiative in this regard, a senior EC official told the Dhaka Tribune preferring to be anonymous.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak told reporters on Saturday that the third phase polls were held hundred percent free and fair, and the commission was satisfied with holding the polls peacefully.
However, poll was postponed in only 26 polling centres in the face of violence, he said yesterday.
The voter turnout in 81 upazilas in the third phase was 63.52%, whereas it was 62.44% in 97 upazilas in the first phase and 63.31% in 116 upazilas during the second phase.
The highest voter turnout was 84.50% in Durgapur uapzila in Rajshahi while the lowest voter turnout was 47.23% in Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh.
Out of 13,106,242, a total of 8,324,812 voters cast their votes in the third phase.
A total of 369,855 votes were cancelled in the third phase while 4, 61, 383 and 5, 62, 955 were cancelled in first and second phase of the polls respectively.
