It appears, then, that the Awami League’s bold rhetoric of development and prosperity, transparency and good governance, and fostering democracy is rendered hollow by its own partymen – unwittingly or not.

Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan), a civil society platform for good governance, yesterday alleged that the recently held three city corporation elections to Barisal, Sylhet and Rajshahi were “government-controlled”.

BNP-led 20-party alliance will participate in the upcoming Khulna and Gazipur city corporation elections scheduled for May 15.

Overwhelmed by the vociferous postmortem of the city corporation polls, two footfalls on the cityscape have gone unnoticed, unappreciated, as though coming and going on stealth.

The ultimate tragedy will strike if people become withdrawn. It will no longer matter who wins or loses any of the many elections.

The EC's tilt was no less pronounced on the eve of and on the day of the elections. Press reports, photographs and narratives of many involved in the election administration process have amply established its culpability in undermining fair election.

BNP urges Election Commission to cancel Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation elections alleging massive irregularities and demands fresh polls.

BNP's decision to boycott the election halfway into the voting has surprised most observers.

THE handsome, charismatic and successful young men join hands and smile for the perfect photo.

Though not happy with the irregularities and vote rigging during the just held city corporation elections, commoners in Dhaka city want to see their city clean, free of traffic-jam and developed.

IT is difficult to accept the comments of the CEC that the three city corporation elections were held in a fair and peaceful manner and that there were no threats or anomalies.

IT is disquieting to see that the media was conspicuously barred from properly covering the city polls.

STUFFING of ballot boxes whether in national or local elections is nothing new in Bangladesh.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) terms the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation elections questionable and embarrassing in national and international level.

WHAT started off as a peaceful, tension-free day of voting, turned out to be a disappointment for the city dwellers of Dhaka and Chittagong.

IN these very columns we had carried an article with a similar heading following the farcical January 5, 2013 elections. Regrettably, we have to say the same about yesterday's mayoral election that did not live upto our expectations.

Experts and observers share their views on the electoral proceedings of the City Corporation Elections and their implications for the political climate of the country with The Daily Star.

Supporters of Awami League-backed mayoral and councilor candidates stuffed ballot boxes indiscriminately driving out poling agents of BNP-backed candidates from a polling booth at Kamalapur Sher-e Bangla Railway High School Centre-1 today.

Ruling Party Awami League supporters allegedly stormed into Uttar Kafrul Government Primary School and vandalised ballot boxes in Cantonment area under Dhaka North City Corporation this morning.

“Go home, voting has ended." These are the words that the Ansar members posted to guard a polling centre in Goran of Dhaka told voters around 1:30pm.