CEC blames ministers, MPs for influencing upazila polls
 | The chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda, said the upazila elections were marked by the capturing of polling centres, keeping voters away and snatching of ballot papers and boxes by some people.
'There have been incidents of unwarranted pressure,' Shamsul told reporters after the voting in the afternoon.
Based on the reports of intimidation and vandalism by political activists in polling centres, the commission suspended elections to four upazilas and voting in many polling centres.
He alleged the presence of ministers and lawmakers in many polling centres influenced the polls process and vitiated the atmosphere.
Shamsul, who conducted the parliamentary polls less than a month ago under the military-controlled interim government, said he had expected the upazila elections to be fair as was the case with the national elections as a result of a change in political culture.
'I did not expect the ministers and lawmakers would influence the elections. It is really unfortunate that they were in the polling stations to influence voters,' said Shamsul, who earlier requested the government to take steps against any sort of political influence. Although there has been no allegation against any polling officials, a political quarter intimidated the poor officials.
Asked about the reasons for the low turnout, he said he had no satisfactory answer.
'We will definitely investigate the matter later,' he said, adding he had taken adequate security arrangement for voters. There were fewer incidents of violence, but the capturing of polling booths, stuffing of ballot boxes and driving away the rival polling agents were rampant.
Asked about his satisfaction in holding of the local polls, he said, 'It seems dissatisfaction remains.'
Election commissioner Sakhawat Hossain, who was also present at the briefing, accused the ruling Awami League of violence and intimidation in polling centres.. http://www.newagebd.com/2009/jan/23/front.html |
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