GCC polls: BNP alleges foul, AL pleased

On course of the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election today, ruling Awami League expressed satisfaction with the voting while BNP brought allegations of rampant irregularities.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed alleged that the election was progressing on the course “set by the government” and followed by the Election Commission.

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“Ruling party men seized polling centres and drove out BNP agents after the voting began. In some places, police are stuffing ballots for ‘boat’,” he alleged at a press briefing arranged at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

“Police have taken the role of AL cadres. BNP agents have been driven out in police presence. Despite being present, voters are being told that their votes have already been cast,” Rizvi said.

Besides, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal met Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda at his commission office in Dhaka and informed him about the irregularities.

“Chief Election Commissioner suggested us not to leave election field but we could not be happy with his call,” Alal told reporters after emerging from the meeting.

BNP has been demanding withdrawal of the Gazipur police super from the first for his partisan role but the Election Commission did not put its heed to the demand, Alal said.

“A group of Detective Branch of Police led by the Gazipur police super took a strong stance for Awami League candidate. We lodged an allegation in this regard with the Gazipur returning officer. The matter was also informed to the Chief Election Commissioner,” Alal also said.

Claiming the BNP is being denied of adequate support from the Election Commission, Alal alleged “The Election Commission has formed mobile team and set up monitoring cell but we are deprived of the polls related information.”

Meanwhile, Awami League Joint Secretary General Jahangir Kabir Nanak trashed BNP's allegation of vote rigging, terming the allegation as fabricated and baseless

Speaking at a press briefing at Awami League president's Dhanmondi political office, Nanak said BNP has brought the allegations in order to cover up their intra-party rift.

BNP is trying to shift the blame to others to cover up their own weakness, the Awami League leader said.

Replying to a query over the absence of BNP agents in many polling centres, Nanak said: “It is because of the weakness of the BNP candidate, they have failed to appoint agents. Now they are trying to shift the blame to cover up their weakness.”

Claiming that the GCC election is being held in a peaceful manner, the AL leader said, “BNP is trying to incite undemocratic forces by putting question mark on the EC.”

Nanak opined that the people are spontaneously casting their votes for ‘Boat’ as there has been no development in the area during the tenure of the BNP-backed mayor.

Later, a four-member delegation including Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Noufel, organising secretary of Awami League for Dhaka division, met the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nuru Huda and held meeting with him over the progress of the election.

After emerging from the meeting, Noufel told reporters that BNP’s allegation is nothing but an outcome of frustration.  

“BNP is dishing out lies to make the election questionable and cover up their failures in the election,” he said.

Responding to a query, Noufel said, “Voting of only five centres out of 425 were halted, so no one can raise question over transparency of the election.”

BNP central leader and former lawmaker Hasan Uddin Sarkar and Gazipur AL General Secretary Advocate Jahangir Alam.