A prominent civil society platform on Tuesday termed the general election held on December 30, 2018 'a mine of irregularities' as hundred percent votes were recorded to be cast in 213 polling centres of 103 constituencies.
A single candidate bagged all the votes in 587 centers of 75 constituencies in the 11th parliamentary elections, revealed Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan).
Sujan came up with the staggering statistics after analysing the results of the national polls at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.
Sujan Central Coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarker shared its analytical report on the statistics of the Election Commission (EC) about the immediate past general election.
Showing the party-wise vote scenario in the 213 centers, he said 90 candidates from the ruling Awami League won in 181 centres followed by Jatiya Party in 21 centres, Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 08 centres and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal in 01 centre.
About cancellation of votes, he said "no vote" was cancelled in 4795 centres while maximum vote cancellation (61 per cent) was recorded at a polling station in Brahmanbaria-2 constituency.
Sujan central secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar said the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) kept saying it is not their responsibility to see the issue how hundred percent votes were cast in so many centres.
"Then whose responsibility is it? Let us know. These are the EC's statistics and we found inconsistency and irregularities. We should better call it (the election) mine of irregularities," he said.
Demanding that the "misconduct" of the Election Commission be investigated through supreme judicial council, he sought intervention of the President to ensure peaceful transfer of power.
"This is not the statistics of Sujan or any political party. It is a constitutional body which released the data. So, the government cannot reject it," constitution expert Dr Shahdeen Malik said.
About the hundred percent vote casting, he said death of the listed voters, staying abroad and severe weakness in a particular polling station are very normal.
"Hundred percent vote casting … how is it possible?. I think all people should move to these areas to get further longevity," he said.
Local government body expert Dr Tofail Ahmed suggested holding no election until trial of the Election Commission as the local government bodies remain ineffective because of their irregularities.
He said the EC has created scope for people having no popularity in their localities to win elections.
"Once they (these unpopular candidates) win the polls, they do not bother about public interest because there is no accountability. I think, the EC loses its moral ground to be functioning," he added.
Columnist Syed Abul Maksud also spoke at the press briefing.
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