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CEC terms it fair, top rivals claim rigging

Staff Correspondent
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Syed yesterday said that Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls were fair while both die opposition and ruling alliance camps complained of electoral irregularities.
After the polling ended, the opposition-backed Nagorik Committee brought allegations of vole rigging in at least 84 polling centres while BNP-led four-party alliance's mayoral candidate in 71 centres. The EC however expressed satisfaction with die overall polling.
"Voting was not suspended at any of the centres and it proves dial the polls were held peacefully,” the CEC told journalists after completion of the polling yesterday afternoon.
Election Commissioner AK Mohammad Ali described die elections as acceptable.
"Experienced election observers were there and so far they have not filed any complaint," he told reporters al his office.
leaders of the mainstream opposition parties met the CEC al noon and lodged complaints of irregularities at different pollingstations.
The Nagorik Committee-backed mayoral candidate ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury’ by fax lodged complaints of electoral irregularities with the EC at noon. He alleged that the ruling alliance men captured 36 polling centres shortly after the voting had kicked off.
Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain and Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil in the meeting with MA Syed complained that ruling alliance men seized a number of polling centres across the port city and cast fake voles.
Local police administration did not discharge their duties, and thus failed to contain irregularities during the polls. Minority voters were intimidated while a large number of outsiders cast fake votes in favour of die ruling alliance candidate, they added.
Dr Kamal at the meeting demanded the EC immediately redress those complaints of irregularities.
Prior to meeting the CEC, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told reporters that ministers positioned at different polling centres were using walkie-talkies to co-ordinate the 'vote rigging’. "Such activities could easily change the polling results," he observed. On allegations made by Dr Kamal and Jalil, the CEO said, "They have raised some good points."
He said it was a local body election, not any national polls, and everyone should grasp the reality.
Hie allegations, however, have been referred to the field-level for necessary actions, the CEC added.
EC sources said on receiving the complaints from the opposition leaders and Nagorik Committee's candidate, the CEC contacted the Returning Officer (RO) Golam Quddus and inquired about the election situation. Quddus assured the CEC that die situation was under control and voting was being held peacefully.
Assistant Returning Officer Mahbub Kabir in a report at about 2:30 pm informed die EC that nothing untoward has taken place. The EC did not receive any allegation from the ruling alliance candidate. The polling officials too did not complain of any irregularity.
BNP lawmaker Zahir Uddin Swapan lodged a complaint on behalf of Mir Nasir Uddin with the RO of irregularities in 71 centres. The allegation* include capturing polling stations, ousting the poling * agents of Mir Nasir by the supporters of Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
Besides, die complaint said that activists of BCL. the student wing of AL, assaulted ruling BNP lawmaker Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad. and two magistrates and eight police officials.
As soon as the polling began at 8:00am, complaints on behalf of the Committee candidate started to pour in at the control room of the Returning Office in Chittagong. Die allegations included ousting of agents, supporters and workers of Mohiuddin Chowdhury from different centres, casting fake voles and inconsistencies among the voter lists.
Awami League leader Nurul Islam BSc met the RO at about 4:00pm, and raised a number of allegations. He pointed out to the RO the differences between the voter list sent to Polytechnic Institute and the original copy in the Election Commission.
Helal Nizami, another leader of Nagorik Committee, lodged complaints of irregularities in 24 centres. Earlier, complaints about irregular practices al 56 centres were filed with the RO office.