Gaibandha-5 by-polls: EC probe body seeks three more days

The probe committee, formed by the Election Commission to identify those responsible for electoral irregularities during the Gaibandha-5 by-polls, has failed to submit its report yesterday, the deadline for the submission.

It sought another three working days to complete the report.

"We have recorded statements of over 600 people, including election officials of the by-polls. We are compiling the report, so we need sometime. We are hopeful the commission will give us the time," said Ashok Kumar Debnath, additional secretary of EC Secretariat and also the chief of the committee.

"The committee is working cordially and transparently. It is a huge task. It sought time and the Election Commission will consider it," said Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Ahsan Habib Khan.

In a rare move, the EC stopped the Gaibandha-5 by-polls on October 12, saying the situation went "out of control" due to widespread electoral irregularities. This was the first by-election held by the current EC.

Before halting the entire election about 2:30pm, the EC stopped voting at 50 out of the 145 centres after noticing irregularities. Returning officer stopped voting of another polling centre.

On October 13, the EC formed a three-member probe committee to find out how the irregularities took place and who were behind them. It was asked to submit its report withing seven working days.

CCTV CAMERA

Talking to reporters at his Agargaon office yesterday, commissioner Ahsan Habib claimed that using of CCTV cameras in elections acted as "enemy of miscreants".

He said the cameras work as "friend for those who behave well" during elections and the EC has planned to install cameras in and outside polling stations in all elections in future.

Ahsan said everyone knows what results the EC has got by using CCTV cameras and holding polls to Cumilla City Corporation, zilla parishads and municipalities elections in Meherpur and Jhenidah with electronic voting machines.

He added that the EC was not under any pressure for using the cameras in elections and it was working independently.