AL wants fair polls, BNP fears silent rigging thru EVMs
DNCC, DSCC all set for voting tomorrow
Staff Reporter, Dhaka
The Awami League (AL) wants controversy-free city corporation elections, while the BNP doubts the polls will be free, fair, and credible. The Election Commission (EC) is all set to hold Saturdays elections with electronic voting machines (EVMs). The EC has decided to use EVMs in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) elections, doing away with traditional ballot papers. This is being done to avoid stuffing of ballot boxes before the stipulated time and snatching of ballot boxes, EC sources said.
Talking to this correspondent, ruling party leaders said they want free, fair and credible elections and that it will be possible as EVMs will be used. No one will be able to cast false votes or cast votes before the stipulated time, they added. On the other hand, BNP leaders expressed doubts, saying the EC has paved the way of victory for the AL-nominated mayoral and councillor candidates by silent rigging through EVMs.
BNP leaders said they have no trust on the current EC and the government, but are taking part in the elections as part of intensifying the anti-government movement. Speaking to The Independent, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday that they do not want controversial elections. Saturdays elections should be held in a free and fair manner so that no one raises any question over the polls, he added.
But the BNP is hatching a conspiracy to make the Dhaka city corporations polls questionable, sensing defeat of its candidates. The party is hiring armed goons to create anarchy during polling, he said. At a press conference at AL President Sheikh Hasinas Dhanmondi political office, Quader said they have information that the BNP has planned to deploy 500 armed goons at each polling station to establish supremacy during voting.
When contacted, AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said, We want the civic polls to be held in a free, fair, and inclusive manner. We dont want rigged or controversial elections. I will call upon law enforcers to take stern action if anybody tries to create anarchy during polling, he added. Talking on the issue, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that despite objections from all quarters, the EC remains rigid on its decision to use EVMs to manipulate the polls.
Voting could be controlled through this system. Peoples verdict will be thwarted by manipulating the elections though EVMs, he said at a press conference at the BNPs central office at Naya Paltan.
The BNP leader doubted the elections would be free and fair, saying the BNP-backed candidates would win if the people could vote freely. He thinks a mass upsurge has been created in favour of the sheaf of paddy symbol of the BNP and the government has no power to resist it.
Fakhrul called upon the EC to leave its anti-people activity and discharge duties bestowed by the Constitution.
He alleged that BNP leaders and activists are being arrested and panic is being created among them just a couple of days ahead of the polls. He thinks the government is doing this as it has become aware of the mass upsurge in favour of BNP candidates.
The AL and BNPs mayoral and councillor candidates carried out last-minute campaigning and made door-to-door visits to woo voters, as campaigning for the civic polls ended yesterday. Both sides have been campaigning since January 10, mostly in a festive atmosphere, except for some stray clashes between supporters of the two parties.
The AL and BNPs mayoral candidates are confident about their victory. The ALs mayoral candidates said people would vote for the boat to ensure continuity of the citys development. But the BNPs mayoral candidates claimed they will have landslide victories if the elections are held in a free and fair manner.
The ruling party candidates brought out processions at every locality in the city on the last day of campaigning and chanted slogans in favour of the boat symbol of the AL. BNP candidates also carried out mass contact at different places in the city yesterday. The two BNP mayoral candidates urged city dwellers to go to the polling centres with courage and vote for them.
Speaking at a view-exchange meeting with leaders of the Dhaka Reporters Unity, the BNPs mayoral candidate for DNCC, Tabith Awal, said the apprehension whether the elections would be free and fair is increasing as the polling day is approaching. He called upon voters to go to the polling centres early without any fear and return home with the poll results. If people can vote, it would not be possible to manipulate the results, he added.
Tabith said holding a free and fair election would depend on the willingness of the EC, as it can take a good decision in favour of the people if it desires.
The BNPs mayoral candidate for DSCC, Ishraque Hossain, alleged that their opponents are spreading propaganda after seeing the mass upsurge in favour of the sheaf of paddy symbol. Speaking at a roadside rally, he said even though he has no personal secretary, it is being spread that one Arif, arrested by the police, was his PS.
Ishraque expressed apprehension as to what his opponent wants to do on the polling day. He said they have made all preparations to appoint polling agents at all booths, and have remained active on the ground.
Ishraques PS arrested
The personal secretary of Ishraque Hossain has been detained for firing during a clash between supporters of BNP and Awami League candidates in Dhakas Wari area on January 26, the police said.
Ariful Islam (47) was held in the capitals Hatirjheel area. A gun and 50 bullets were seized from his possession, the additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Abdul Baten, said at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre.
Ariful is a former leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the police officer said. BNP urges EC to ensure safety of polling agents
The BNP has urged the EC to take visible and effective measures to ensure the security of its agents and voters on the polling day. A delegation of the BNPs elections conducting committee for DSCC made the demand during a meeting with returning officer Abdul Baten at his office at the Sadeque Hossain Khoka Community Centre in Gopibagh yesterday afternoon.
After the meeting, delegation leader Abdus Salam, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias adviser, told journalists that they had recommended that the EC ensure a level playing field so that the ruling party cannot influence the elections. We expressed deep concern over the arrest of our leaders and activists and searching of their houses by the police to intimidate them, as well as code of conduct violations by AL leaders and activists, he said.
50,000 law-enforcers deployed in the city
The EC has deployed 50,000 law enforcers to ensure peaceful elections. The police and Ansar are discharging their duties at the polling centres, while members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Navy personnel are vigilant, EC sources said today.
Law enforcers will ensure security at 2,486 voting centres in the city, of which 1,597 are risky. As many as 16 law enforcers are patrolling each polling station, while 18 remain watchful at risky polling stations. The patrolling lawmen include four policemen, two armed Ansar members, and 10 Ansar-VDP members.
Law enforcement agencies, along with judicial magistrates27 for Dhaka North and 37 for Dhaka Southare on duty from today (two days before the polling day) to February 3 (two days after the polling day).
