Election observer groups yesterday demanded cancellation of the results of July 1 Dhaka-10 by-polls 'for the sake of democracy as well as free and fair elections'.

The groups -- Bro tee. DemocracyWatch, Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (Ferna) and

Jatiyo Nirbachon Porjobekkhon Porishad (lanipop) -- in a joint statement made the demand as Uicy claimed the by-election was seriously marred by massive irregularities, noticed and reported by al! 'ifiEjaretcction observationbodies.'

The election observers said, "We urge, in tire name of democracy and

SEE PAGE 11 COL 4 FROM PAGE 1

free and fair elections, that the results of this contest be nullified and another election be expediently held, otherwise people will lose respect for the entire electoral process."

The demand came two days before the Election Commission's (EC's) hearing of the appeal filed by Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) candidate Abdul Mannan for cancellation of the by-polls at the EC conference room on Thursday.

The EC has already served a notice to both the ruling BNP and the BDB to attend the hearing on the validity of the parliamentary byelection, which has been eclipsed by allegations of massive vote rigging.

The BDB in an appeal to the EC on July 3 demanded the cancellation challenging legality of the election. In his appeal Mannan claimed he had submitted 'evidences' of ballot rigging by the ruling alliance at 89 of the 103 polling centres and a range of other irregularities to back up his demand.

On the four election observer groups' demand to nullify the bypolls results, Acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Safiur Rahman told the British Broadcasting Corporation's Bangla Service yesterday, "The matter is sub-judice. I cannot speak on it."

He said, "I don't have the legal authority to cancel the by-election. A petition has been filed by the BDB candidate, both parties have been served with a notice and the EC will reach a decision after hearing both the sides."

This is the first time the observer groups have raised such a demand, as generally they limit their task to portraying the poll scenario. But, they said the irregularities in the last occasion went to such an extent that they felt compelled to demand revocation of its results.

The observer groups actually have raised doubts about the total election process, efficacy of election laws and the role of EC, said a Munira Khan, chairperson of Fema.

She told The Daily Star last night, "We don't blame any political party. But, election which is essential to a strong democracy, must not be degraded to such a farce, which gives rise to a notion that election is quite an easy thing, what you need is only to repress your opponent."

"If no one obeys the rules and regulations what is the point of their existence?" she enquired.

"If there are any loopholes in the existing rules and regulations, we would want them reformed," Khan said, adding, "If a 'free and fair election' seal was given to the highly irregular Dhaka-10 by-polls then future elections might become

meaningless."

A former election commissioner told The Daily Star last night, "In the latest election, they [observer groups] have witnessed the government to use state powers under legal cover to forcibly swing the verdict in favour of its candidate, eroding public confidence on the entire election process."

"If such a trend continues it would wear away public confidence in fair polls," he noted.

Earlier, Fema Secretary General Muhammad Abdul Matin had termed the election an unusual event in the history of Bangladesh, a 'one-sided' show, and said dominance of the four-party alliance candidate was keenly felt at almost all the polling stations.

Janipop in a statement had reported that the by-polls was held amid high instances of fraud, fake voting and other electoral interference.

In a written statement, the Janipop had said the parliamentary by-election was marred by high instances of fraud, enough to call into question the validity of its final results.

Not more than 35 percent voters took part in the election, it noted.

According to Brotee's queer vote matrix, the participation of genuine voters was very limited, though the total voter presence was 73 percent. The average vote cast was 38 percent while 35 percent of the voters left without casting vote. And of the 38 percent votes cast, 55 percent were 'false' and the rest, 45 percent, genuine.

DemocracyWatch reported of a very low turnout of voters, especially of women, and maintained there was no incident of violence due to the absolute supremacy of a particular party at every polling centre.

On the election day, the acting CEC had rejected the demand for cancellation of the election, though he told the press, "I can only say the poll was not totally satisfactory."

The EC secretariat had hurriedly published gazette notification on the polls results and Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar administered the oath of office to ruling coalition candidate Mosaddak Ali Falu in a similar fashion, taking less than three hours to complete the process.