EC happy despite \\\'irregularities\\\'

Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak is happy that none was killed in violence during the 5th phase of Upazila (UZ) Parishad polls, which saw occupation of voting centres and stamping of ballot papers by the occupiers in several areas. After balloting ended at 4pm on Monday, Mobarak, who is supervising the polls in absence of the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakubuddin Ahmed, told reporters in the evening, “Many thanks to Almighty Allah that no one was killed. It would have been better if no centres were closed.” The Election Commission (EC), however, acknowledged a ‘little trouble’ during the 4th round of balloting while the BNP alleged that ‘massive rigging’ took place after many polling centres were occupied. As many as 73 UZs in 34 districts went to vote from 8am to 4pm on Monday. The EC said votes at 19 centres at five Upazilas – Feni’s Chhagolnaiya, Tangail’s Ghatail, Barguna’s Amtoli, Narayanganj’s Sonargaon and Narsinghdi’s Sadar - were countermanded due to untoward situation. Irregularities, occupation of centres and rigging took place at these centres. The EC has been attributing the violence that marked the local government body election so far, to the stubborn desire of the political parties to win, according to a news agency.