Published on 12:00 AM, January 28, 2021

CCC polls stirs up the political arena

At a polling centre in Shahid Nagar City Corporation Girls’ High School in the port city’s Lalkhan Bazar area, two youths appear to be inside a voting booth simultaneously, while another peeks from behind, around 11am. While only one person is supposed to be permitted into the booth at a time, the polling officer is seen quite literally turning the other way. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN, PRABIR DAS
Star Report

The Chattogram City Corporation polls yesterday stirred up a heated debate in the country's political arena, with BNP alleging that the election was marred by "unprecedented vote robbery" and "violence".

The issue of the election was discussed during the ongoing session of the parliament, when two BNP lawmakers came down heavy on the administration for favouring ruling Awami League candidate, terming the polls a "farce".

However, ruling Awami League blamed BNP for threatening voters and creating panic, and indulging in violent and criminal activities.

During the discussion on the Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill-2021, which was passed in the parliament yesterday, a debate between treasury and opposition BNP lawmakers took place at the House.

BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid said a "farce" was staged in the name of CCC polls.

A woman wraps her head in gauze after being hacked in the head with a sharp weapon, in front of Ambagan UCEP school where clashes left a man dead. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN, PRABIR DAS

Another BNP lawmaker Rumin Farhana alleged administration cast votes while people witnessed it.

Refuting BNP lawmakers' claim, AL lawmaker and Law Minister Anisul Huq said, "They are talking about election; we have seen Yes-No vote of Ziaur Rahman, (we have seen) February 15 election... ballot boxes could not be found at that time."

Opposition Jaitya Party took stance in favour of the ruling MPs.

Elsewhere, a BNP delegation, followed by a team of AL representatives, visited the EC in the capital's Agargaon yesterday afternoon and submitted a written complaint to the EC secretary regarding electoral irregularities.

Talking to reporters after filing the complaint, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday alleged that the CCC election was marred by "unprecedented vote robbery" and "violence", terming the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda as a "killer of democracy and fair elections".

He said, "This election is nothing but a farce on an unimaginable level. Fair elections remain out of reach to people during this regime," reports UNB.

The voting centre at Dr Khastagir Girls’ High School sees no queue of voters around 10am; the situation remained the same for the nect few hours. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN, PRABIR DAS

BNP polling agents, mayoral and councilor candidates were driven out from most of the polling stations just after the voting began in the morning, Rizvi said.

Talking to media after filing a complaint with the returning officer (RO) in the port city over electoral irregularities, BNP mayoral candidate Shahadat Hossain alleged he had to "contest" police and administration instead of AL candidate, reports our Chattogram correspondent.

"Multiple misdeeds including arrest of BNP men and filing false cases against them by police and administration took place in Chattogram city since seven days before the election," he said.

Outside the Pathaghata Girls’ High School polling centre, a man picks up broken glass from the windshield of a vandalised bus. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN, PRABIR DAS

He alleged BNP agents were ousted from polling stations but police did not take any action in this regard, adding that he visited at least 15 polling centres till 2pm and found anomalies.

Earlier in the day, casting his vote in the morning at Ekhlasur Rahman Government Primary School at Bahaddarhat area in the port city, AL mayoral candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said he was cent percent hopeful to win the polls.

Saying that voting was going on peacefully, he promised to accept the election result whatever it is.

About BNP's allegation over ousting the party's polling agents from polling stations, Rezaul said, "BNP is party whose main focus is to bring allegations against us. Their organisational capacity is very poor. They could not deploy polling agents due to their organisational weaknesses."

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