Awal alleges that votes for 'hand fan' are going to 'boat' in 1 centre

The mayoral candidate of Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) Abdul Awal alleged that votes cast for "hand fan", IAB's electoral symbol, were going to "boat" -- the ruling party's symbol -- in the EVMS at one centre in the Khulna City Corporation polls.

"I came to know from our polling agents that votes cast in favour of our symbol were going to boat symbol at a centre [Satellite Town High School] in Ward 12 of Khalishpur," Awal said after casting his vote at Darul Qur'an Bahumukhi Madrasa in West Baniyakhama area this morning.

Contacted, Anwarul Kabir, presiding officer of the centre, said the allegations were not true.

"There is no scope of such a problem occurring in the EVMs," he told The Daily Star.

Asked about the process of voting through EVMs, voters told our correspondent that once they vote for a symbol, the symbol enlarges to fill the screen of the EVM.

Talking to the reporters, Awal also alleged, "In some centres, the EVMs are broken, also there were technical glitches in some others, slowing down the voting. But if the issue is resolved immediately, it will not have any major impact."

He, however, said he did not find any problem with the EVMs where he voted.

Expressing optimism about victory, the Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate said, "If the polls are held in a fair manner, I will win the election."

He said the overall atmosphere of the polls was good and he would accept any result at the end of the day if the polls were fair.