Hasina hits hat trick in power
Awami League-led Grand Alliance is heading towards a landslide victory in the 11th parliamentary elections held on December 30 by and large peacefully barring some stray violence that left 14 people killed and over 60 injured. According to latest results (until 10:15pm), AL-led Grand Alliance candidates won 132 seats while BNP-led Oikyafront in just 3 seats.
Oikyafront, in a press briefing around 8pm, rejected the results and demanded reelection under a caretaker government at the earliest, saying that the election was nothing but a mockery as their agents were not allowed in most of the polling centres across the country. The Awami League (AL) said the elections were held peacefully except some isolated violent incidents, but the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led Jatiya Oikyafront alleged that their agents were barred from entering polling centres.
Three were killed in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, two in Cumilla, one each in Noakhali, Natore, Rangamati, Coxs Bazar, Narsingdi, Bogura and Brahmanbaria.
At least 17 BNP and independent candidates boycotted the polls, alleging rigging and other irregularities.
While visiting a centre at Uttara of the capital, Chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda told journalists that the elections were held peacefully except some isolated incidents.
In reply to a query, he said he has nothing to do if agents of the BNP do not come to the centres.
The elections were held in 299 constituencies. The polling started at 8am and continued till 4pm without a break. It was a public holiday allowing voters to cast their ballots.
The election to Gaibandha-3 will be held on January 27 as the Election Commission (EC) announced a fresh schedule due to the death of one of the candidates.
Election commissioner Mahbub Talukder, while casting his vote at a centre of Mogbazar, was asked by journalists about the voting environment.
Ask yourself, you will get the answer. Ask those who are conducting the elections, he replied.
I am receiving allegations about elections. Even I did not see any agent of the opposition at my own centre. I dont know why they did not come, he said.
The total number of voters was 10,42,38,677 -- 5,25,72,365 male and 5,16,66,312 female. The polling took place at 2,07,312 booths of 40,183 centres across the country.
There was huge enthusiasm among voters where electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used.
Election Commission (EC) secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told the media yesterday that polling at 22 polling centres was suspended for various irregularities.
