Investigators find no violence, rigging

The Election Commission may not be able to take action against violence and irregularities in the recently-held upazila elections as the investigators have said they did not find any proof of such incidents, an election commissioner said yesterday.
"Through media reports and our personal links, we've known there were some irregularities and violence in different upazilas. That is why, we directed district election officers, DCs [deputy commissioners] and SPs [superintendents of police] to probe the incidents. But in their reports, they said such incidents did not occur," he told The Daily Star seeking anonymity.
"If they don't submit report properly, if they don't mention about irregularities or vote rigging, how can we take action?" he asked. Expressing dissatisfaction over investigators, the commission said they might have hid the incidents under the pressure of local Awami League men and MPs.
Elections to 459 upazilas were held in five phases from February 19 to March 31 amid widespread violence, vote rigging and ballot boxes stuffing by ruling AL men.
Following news reports on irregularities and violence, the EC ordered investigation in around 100 upazilas. Over 50 probe reports, received so far, cite no irregularities, said EC officials.
Some upazilas where violence occurred but investigators did not "find" it are Keshabpur of Jessore, Parshuram, Phulgazi of Feni, Kaliakoir of Gazipur, and Subarnachar, Hatia of Feni.
Meanwhile, the EC may start updating the voter rolls by June 1.
Separately, the EC sent the affidavit of Jatiya Party MP ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader to the Anti-Corruption Commission, which is probing land grabbing allegations against him in Kuakata, Patuakhali.