The Election Commission and the ruling Awami League claimed yesterday's municipal polls were free and fair except for some stray incidents.

The AL, however, accused the police of causing some of the incidents.

Briefing reporters at his office after the close of voting, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said the elections were peaceful except for some sporadic incidents.

Asked if the commission was satisfied with the polls, he said: "It's not a matter of satisfaction. It's our duty and we are performing it. You people will evaluate it."

About BNP's complaints of vote rigging, the CEC said they received the highest number of complaints from the party. "We verified BNP's claims and took steps wherever necessary."

Although the BNP demanded re-elections in around 1,500 polling centres in 157 municipalities, Rakibuddin said the party called for re-polling in only 60 centres.

Apart from Madhabdi municipality in Narsingdi, the EC postponed elections in 38 polling centres of 18 municipalities due to anomalies, he added.

AL BRIEFING

Speaking at a press conference at the party president's Dhanmondi office, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said yesterday's municipal polls were more free and fair than any other previous local elections.

He thanked the BNP for staying in the polls race till the end and urged all the political parties to accept the polls results. "We all should be prepared to accept the results whatever they might be."

Meanwhile, prime minister's Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam claimed the elections were held in a "congenial atmosphere" except for some stray incidents. He accused the police of causing some of the incidents.

Imam was talking to newsmen after handing over a letter to the CEC at the latter's office in the afternoon. He termed BNP's allegations of vote rigging blatant lies.