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11 more upazila poll results to be probed

EC goes for judicial enquiry into 7 upazilas earlier; CEC now happy with the election

Staff Correspondent
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday announced it will have judicial enquiry into allegations of electoral irregularities in 11 more upazilas, raising the number of such local bodies to 18.
It has already asked the law ministry to arrange for judicial probe into polls in seven upazilas in consultation with the Supreme Court.
Speaking at his first press briefing after January 22 upazila elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said, "We'll take decisions on the upazilas in question on the basis of probe
findings. And it might take a month and half.”
The EC will also open enquiry into eight allegations against election officials. The decisions come on scrutiny of 50 complaints alleg ingirregularities in the polls.
The CEC yesterday said, "Overall, the polls were satisfactory, but not up to the level we had expected.”
Immediately after the balloting closed on January 22, he expressed dissatisfaction over turnout, and criticised the way some ruling party lawmakers including a minister had behaved. He also said the EC would investigate the reasons for the 'low' attendance of voters. Reminded of his earlier remarks, the polls chief said those were premature. “Before making the comments. I should have taken into account the overall situation.
“The information that we had at that time came mainly from Savar and Gazipur, where voter turnout was low in die national polls as well.
“The peaceful conduct of election elsewhere, particularly in northern districts, did not come up in the media much. Perhaps, that prompted us to make those comments."
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain however said, "I'd still say the turnout was low. I made the observation after visiting some polling centres in Gazipur where the presence of voters was indeed very poor."
The EC yesterday disclosed that total turnout in the polls was 68.32 percent.
Huda said the work on gazettes with election results of 446 upazila parishads is almost complete.
Of the remaining 35 upazilas, six saw polls suspended before January 22 due to violence and irregularities. On similar grounds, voting at 21 polling stations in nine others was called off on the election day.
The fate of elections in two other upazilas--Ajemeriganj of Habiganj and Daudkandi of Comilla-will be decided by the courts.
The CEC said people did not come out like they did in the December 29 general election because the upazila elections followed shortly.
Queried about 11 allegations of code of conduct violations, he said since the elections are over, the EC can do nothing in that regard.
On 10 complaints of concealing information in the affidavits by those elected chairmen, he said the EC will pursue the issue, and ask the LGRD ministry to remove those who would be found guilty.
The EC also received an allegation that army personnel played biased role in one upazila. Huda said they have referred the matter to the army headquarters for actions.
Similarly, an allegation against the police was sent to the police headquarters. RESULTS SUSPENDED According to the EC's decisions, elections to Madarganj of Jamalpur district, Ishwarganj and Gafargaon of
Mymenslngh, Atpara of Netrakona, Pakundia of Kishoreganj. Madaripur sadar ofMadaripur. Jagannathpurof Sunamganj, Chandina of Comilla. RaypuraofLaxmipur, Harinakunda of Jhenidah, and Chhagalnaiya of Fcni will be under judicial probe.
The CEC said the probe would be confined to chairman election in some upazilas. while in others election to all three posts -chairman and two vice chairmen--will be investigated.
Earlier, the EC suspended election results in seven upazilas--Muradnagar of Comilla. Banchliarampur of Brahmanbaria, Teknaf of Cox's Bazar. Araihazar of Narayanganj, Kaliganj of Gazipur. Mehcndiganj of Barisal and Raypura of Narsingdi.
VOTER TURNOUTS
The average countrywide voter attendance in the upazila elections was 68.32 percent while that in parliamentary elections was 86.34 percent.
Turnout in upazila polls under Rajshahi division was 77.67 percent against 90.42 in the parliamentary polls. It was 75.50 percent against 90.43 in Khulna. 67.95 percent against 84.17 in Barisal, 68.38 percent against 84.61 in Dhaka. 70.44 percent against 84.87 in Sylhet and 65.66 percent against 82.60 percent in Chittagong division.
The highest turnout on January 22 was recorded in Kalai upazila of Joypurhat. There, as high as 92.57 percent of voters showed up to cast their votes.
Turnout in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat was 92.14 percent, in Bholahat of Chapainawabganj 92.01 percent. Durgapur of Rajshahi 90.46 percent, Gomostapur of Chapainawabganj 89.80 percent, Mohonpur of Rajshahi 89.64 percent, Nachol of Chapainawabganj 89.27 percent, Autoary of Panchagarh 88.96 percent, Mujib Nagar of Meherpur 88.49 percent and Haripur of Thakurgaon 88.08 percent voters cast their vote.
Savar of Dhaka saw the lowest voter attendance at 39-28 percent. Chhagalnaiya of Feni saw a turnout of 40.89 percent, Rupganj of Narayanganj 41.15 percent, Narayanganj Sadar 42.42 percent. Gazipur Sadar 42.85 percent, and Charfashion of Bhola 44.67 percent.