Law enforcers, admin helped ensure AL victory

Shahadat Hossain, defeated mayor candidate in Chattogram City Corporation polls from the BNP, has demanded a re-election, alleging that verdict of the people was "robbed" by various government agencies and law enforcers with the help of the administration.

He also said they would sue the Election Commission for its "failure to keep its promise of a fair election".

At a press conference at his party office Nasimon Bhaban in Chattogram yesterday, the BNP leader alleged that the election was rigged and his activists and supporters were intimidated and attacked.

He read out a four-page statement there.

Shahadat said the chiefs of police, Rab and various agencies were present in Chattogram on the election day. Together, they ensured the Awami League candidate's victory in the polls. Many police officers cited instruction from the high-ups when they drove out the BNP's polling agents from the voting centres, he alleged.

He further alleged that the EC did not keep its promise, based on which they contested the election. He said they would file a lawsuit against the commission.

"We had placed some conditions before the Election Commission, which assured us of a fair election. But we saw the opposite scenario on the voting day. That's why we will file a lawsuit against the EC," he said.

"I visited various polling centres where I saw six to seven percent votes were casted till 2:00pm. But the voter turnout was shown at 22.52 percent. How was it possible to cast such a number of votes in the last two hours?" he asked.

The voting ended at 4:00pm.

Abnormality was found in voter turnout at different centres, he said, adding that in some centres, the turnout was only one percent, and it was up to 94 percent in some other centres.

"Two polling centres in a building showed a huge contrasting result. In one centre, the turnout was 84 percent and 1.64 percent in another centre, Shahadat mentioned.

He alleged the presiding officers did not sign the ID cards of BNP polling agents.

"Outsiders from various upazilas were taken to the city before the election day and the outsiders intimidated, attacked BNP supporters and activists to drive them out from their respective areas," alleged Shahadat, also president of Chattogram city BNP.

He also mentioned that four BNP councillor candidates -- Hasan Liton, Ismail Hossain Bali, Mohammad Azom and Yeasin Chowdhury Asu -- were detained the night before the election day.

Of them, police filed a case against Bali who was later sent to jail by a court.

Shahadat said the EC proved the allegation brought by 40 eminent citizens of the country true. They alleged that the EC destroyed the electoral process in the country.

Abul Hashem Bakkar, general secretary of Chattogram city BNP, party councillor candidates who contested the polls were present, among others, at the press conference.

AL mayoral candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury won by a landslide in Wednesday's CCC polls marked by violence, low voter turnout and the capture of scores of polling centres by ruling party men.