Observers praise EC on Rangpur city polls

The Election Working Group (EWG) has appreciated the Election Commission (EC) for holding the Rangpur City Corporation election in a peaceful and fair manner, reports bdnews24.com.
"The election was held without violence or irregularities," EWG President Md Abdul Alim said at a press conference at the National Press Club the city on Saturday. "Overall the election was peaceful and credible."
"The EC was able to conduct election activities with skill and professionalism while maintaining security. Voters participated of their own volition."
Though few local complaints emerged in the Rangpur city elections on Thursday, the BNP claims the EC did not ensure a fair election.
The Awami League candidate and incumbent mayor lost out to the Jatiya Party candidate during the election. The BNP came in third.
The EWG, formed in 2006, called on the EC to maintain the standards for the Rangpur polls in the upcoming national election.
The organisation said that the trial use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the election was satisfactory and encouraged the devices to be introduced to voters.
"The EVMs were used at one polling centre. There were no problems aside from the machine 'hanging' for a brief period of time."
"But the people are not yet confident in the machines. We recommend that efforts be made to raise awareness among voters regarding this new voting mechanism and convince them of its reliability." The EVMs were available at six booths in the polling centre.
The EWG also praised the way in which the polling centres were opened and closed, the vote counting process and the ways in which the participation of women and disabled voters was ensured.
A BSS report adds: The election observers said the Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) polls, held on December 21, was one of the best local government polls in the country.
"We observed city corporations polls in Barisal, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Dhaka, Narayanganj and Comilla science 2013...The RCC election was the best among all the local government polls," Election Working Group (EWG) Director Md Abdul Alim told a press conference.
Begum Rokeya University Vice-Chancellor and also EWG member Prof Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullha and EWG members Md Abdul Awal and Md Harun-or-Rashid were present on the occasion.
Alim said, "Not a single incident of fake vote casting took place in the RCC polls. Even nobody tried to cast a fake vote...This election will increase confidence of the stakeholders."
About the BNP's allegation, Prof Kalimullha said, "We were present in the poll areas from the beginning of the voting to the announcement of results and exchanged views with many people including the locals, media correspondents and others who were involved in election process, but no one made such allegations."
"I think the allegation was made on political consideration and it (allegation) has no relation with the situation in the field," he said.
In reply to a question, Alim said, "Everybody including the political leaders should obey the rules and regulations of election." He said the poll was held peacefully in a festive mood and the election has been acceptable.