Unsure if polls will be free, fair: Tabith

With only a day left to the city corporation polls, BNP mayor candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Tabith Awal said he was still not sure whether the election will be free and fair.

Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with journalists in the capital’s Jatiya Press Club yesterday, he also expressed his apprehension over the neutrality of Election Commission (EC) and fairness of electronic voting machine (EVM).

“Our fear is centring the election day, which is drawing nearer. I am not sure whether all of our agents will be able to go to the polling centres on that day,” Tabith said at the event.

“On election day, we will realise how the EVMs ultimately work. We will also see how the EC acts following polls violence and irregularities. The whole country is waiting to see what EC does,” he added.

At another views-exchange meeting, held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), the BNP leader alleged that the EC showed a lack of sincerity towards the opposition party candidates, as it denied many of their complaints regarding attacks and electoral code violation.

He also urged journalists to play a responsible role, so that the real picture of the election comes out through their reporting.

On the last day of electioneering, Tabith spent a busy day talking to electorates and the press.

Speaking at one of the programmes, Jatiya Press Club President Saiful Alam expressed hope that the election would be free and fair. He also urged the candidates to implement their election manifesto properly.

Daily Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) President Kader Goni Chowdhury and several other senior journalists and BNP leaders were present there.

After the meetings, Tabith carried out his campaign by arranging rallies and processions in several areas of the city -- including Moghbazar, Tejgaon, Mohammadpur, Mirpur and Uttara.