Local, foreign observers term Dec 29 polls satisfactory

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Election Working Group (EWG), a 32-member alliance of local election observers, said their immediate reaction to Monday's election is that it was 'satisfactory' on the whole, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
EWG released the results of a 'quick impression survey' at a press conference on Monday night, based on findings until 12pm on the election day.
The election observers' network in a statement said their findings were preliminary, and that they would release a comprehensive report from its observer mission on Jan 3.
The survey, based on observations from in and around 651 polling centres, acknowledges some instances of voter insecurity and irregularities, voting process and illegal campaigning.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of ADD, an NGO, in his keynote presentation said inadequate security and slow voting process discouraged voters from staying at the polling centres in the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts. There were cases of fake voting in Chapainawabgonj, Feni and Bogra.
"Inadequate protection for secrecy of voting were reported from Sylhet, and incidents of attempted election day campaigning came in from Habiganj and Bogra," he told the briefing. Tendered votes were cast in Chapainawabganj and Dhaka-19 constituency, added the NGO official.
ADD executive director Mohsin Ali alleged observers were prevented from monitoring election on certain occasions.
On the other hand, the results of the 9th parliamentary election appear to have accurately reflected the will of Bangladeshi people, according to the preliminary findings of the International Republican Institute (IRI).
"IRI found Bangladesh's December 29 parliamentary election a major step forward in demonstrating the country's commitment to strengthening democracy. The process appears to have yielded a result that accurately reflects the will of Bangladeshi voters," IRI election observation delegation head Constance Berry Newman said in a press briefing.