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Polls smooth barring minor incidents: AL

Staff Correspondent
Awami League (AL) has claimed the Upazila Parishad elections were held peacefully across the country despite a few minor incidents.
"The elections were held peacefully despite one or two small incidents," claimed AL spokesperson Syed Ashraful
Islam couple of hours after the local body voting ended yesterday.
Briefing newspersons at AL President Sheikh Hasina's political office, Ashraf, also LGRD and cooperatives minister, contradicted the statements made by the Election Commission that there were party influences in the polls.
He said political parties do not have any influence in the local government elections as their symbols are not used.
"There is no question of being involved in either violent incidents or influencing the polls by Awami League,” he claimed.
"Awami League did not take part in the elections as a party. But there were Awami League-supported candidates. Our elected lawmakers did not campaign for any candidates. We tried to follow the electoral code of conduct properly."
Terming the polls violence "sporadic incidents" and outcome of, conflicts betSveeri ancestors, loiral relatives and families. A^hfaf said those incidents did not have an impact on overall elections.
He also claimed they are happy with the law and order during the polls.
Ashraf, also AL joint general secretary, said although the local government elections are held in different countries based on political parties, the tradition in Bangladesh is nonpartisan.
He alleged EC and the caretaker government tried to reinforce depoliticisaiotn in Bangladesh. "I think local government elections without politics won't bring good to the people largely."
Asked whether they would make future elections party-based in parliament, the LGRD minister said parliament should think on the matter. He expressed the hope that the lawmakers would discuss the process of holding the local body elections in the inaugural session of parliament.
On low turnout, he said there was possibility of less turnout due to heavy cold and as the voters were tired following the national elec-tion. "But there was mentionable number of voters' turnout, not too less," he claimed.
He thanked EC, members of the armed forces and law-enforcement agencies for holding the peaceful elections.