Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Wednesday said the first phase elections in 97 upazila parishads of the country were held in a free and peaceful manner except a few minor incidents.
“We’ve completed (the first phase) elections taking necessary measures at all the stages. Our main duty is to create a healthy environment for holding a fair election. We’ve been able to do so,” he told a press briefing at the media centre of the Election Commission Secretariat in the city around 7pm.
Sought comments over BNP’s allegation of election irregularities and harassment of the party-backed candidates, the CEC said, “Allegations lodged by many is equally important. But this election is a non-partisan one. So, if any candidate lodges complaint in systematic way, it’ll be given the due importance.”
About voter turnout, Rakibuddin said it will not be wise to provide any statistics depending on guess.
Asked whether the commission is happy with Wednesday’s polls, he said, there is nothing to be happy or unhappy. The important thing is we’ve performed our duty.”
Replying to another query over the security of vulnerable polling stations, the CEC said the commission takes security measures on the basis of information gathered from their field-level officers not following allegation lodged by candidates or others.
He hoped the next phases of the country’s 4th upazila elections will also be fair and peaceful like the first one.
The EC arranged the voting in the 97 upazilas of the country’s 40 districts from 8am to 4pm without any break on Wednesday.
Source: UNB Connect