Voting to Dhaka North and South ended amid low voter turnout, sporadic violence, allegations from BNP and the chief election commissioner’s fingerprint not matching.
The voting at the 2,468 centres, held entirely through Electronic Voting Machines ended at 4 pm on Saturday (Feb 1).
BNP ALLEGED POLLING AGENTS BEING DRIVEN OUT
The BNP complained that voters were not being allowed to enter the polling centres and their polling agents driven out.
Addressing the media at the Kalachandpur School centre, BNP’s Dhaka North mayoral candidate Tabith Awal said, “The voters are not being allowed to enter the centre. Our agents are also being driven out.”
He added that he went there to ensure that voters can cast their votes and has already complained to the law enforcers there.
The BNP candidate also complained that his polling agents were not being allowed to enter Banasree Ideal School and College and Sher-e-Bangla School and College centres either.
BNP’s Dhaka South candidate Ishtaque Hossain said, “I have heard that our polling agents are not being allowed to enter some of the centres. We have informed the magistrates.”
Islami Andolan alleged that 200 of their polling agents were driven out of the centres by ruling Awami League activists and almost 300 agents were assaulted.
SPORADIC VIOLENCE
The polls were held amid sporadic clashes and allegations of BNP polling agents being driven out of the centres.
The followers of Awami League-backed councillor aspirant Minu reportedly vandalised the polling booth of rebel candidate in Gendaria High School. Moreover, they took away the cards of the polling agents and drove them out of Faridabad High School.
“There were problems between supporters of the two candidates. But we have removed everyone and the situation is under control,” said Gendaria police Sub Inspector Abdullah Al Mamun.
Meanwhile, the supporters of AL-backed Abul Kasem’s assaulted the supporters of the rebel candidate in Adabor’s ward-30. Similar clashes were reported between the supporters of AL’s Kadam Ali and the rebel candidate.
A spot visit to the centres in Dhaka showed that the BNP-backed candidates are not active. Ward-16 councillor aspirant in Kalabagan Sirajul Islam was reportedly injured in an attack by rivals.
Supporters of Awami League and BNP clashed at ward 27, Bakshibazar Government Primary School where at least eight crude bombs went off. Voting at the centre was temporarily halted.
“There was a little problem here. Voting was halted for some time. Now the situation is under control,” said Presiding Officer Mostafizur Rahman.
Meanwhile, in Mohammadpur’s Jafrabad Agami News journalist Mostafizur Rahman Sumon was severely injured after being hit on the head by the supporters of the AL-backed councillor candidate. He has been admitted to Shikder Medical for treatment.
Despite the clashes, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal claimed that voting was taking place peacefully.
“Our law enforcers are carrying out their duties. If anyone has any complaints, necessary steps will be taken,” he said.
Responding to queries on BNP polling agents being driven out of the centres, he said that its BNP’s regular complaint.
CEC’S EVM FINGERPRINT GAFFE
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda’s fingerprint didn’t match in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) when he went to cast his vote at Uttara.
The election commission chief had to cast his vote with his national identification (NID) number after the EVM at IES School and College centre.
Assistant Presiding Officer Siddiqa Bulbul said that fingerprints of both his thumbs were scanned in the EVM but it didn’t match.
The CEC isn’t the first to hit the snag while trying to cast his vote digitally. Incidents of machines hitting technical glitches including fingerprints not matching and the paper to print the audit card getting stuck has been reported from Mohammadpur and wards 24, 25 and 26.
Despite facing difficulties himself, CEC Huda said people have expressed their satisfaction in using EVMs.
Dhaka North had as many as 3,010,273 voters and 2,453,194 at the Dhaka South. The last city polls were held in 2015.
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