Officials of the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday started enquiring about alleged irregularities at 30 polling centres during the Barishal City Corporation election on July 30. The enquiry was held at the Regional Election Office in the Kashipur area of Barishal city. The EC officials recorded statements and heard presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and other polling officers, officials of law enforcement agencies and others involved in the election process at those centres. This would continue from 9:00am till the evening every day till August 14.

Khondaker Mizanur Rahman, joint secretary (election management-2), is leading the four-member enquiry committee as convener. The other three members are Farhad Hossain, acting deputy secretary of the EC, Shahid Abdus Salam, deputy director (training) of the Election Training Institute, and Md. Shah Alam, senior assistant secretary (establishment-2).

Mizanur Rahman told journalists that they decided to start the enquiry at 15 centres where results were withheld and one centre where voting was suspended on the election day itself. Fourteen other centres were added after receiving allegations from candidates, he explained.

"Candidates were not called to give testimony. But if any of them wishes to give a statement verbally or in writing, we will accept those. During the four days, we will try to find out irregularities during voting and the nature, cause and persons liable for those irregularities. Our report will be submitted to the EC within 15 working days after the enquiry ends. On basis of our report, the EC will decide whether re-election will be held or results would be published," he said.

On the first day, enquiry was held about the happenings at seven centres—the Syeda Majidunnesa School, Barishal Public School and College, Fariya Community Centre, Government Women’s College, Barishal City College, Adarsha Primary School and the Shahid Abdur Rob Serniabad Textile Engineering College-1( cotton spinning and jute shed), said Mujibur Rahman, returning officer of the BCC elections.