The BNP has filed written complaint with the Election Commission over the violations during the Dhaka City polls.
BNP National Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury submitted the letter from Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday (Feb 1) evening.
“While the polls were underway, the prime minister spoke with a mayoral candidate standing beside her to vote for her candidate. This is not only a violation of the polls but also a bad example for the country,” he said.
He said that the head of the government setting such an example sends the wrong message to the election officials who will be unable to carry out their duties in a neutral manner.
Khasru said that controversy surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have reached a point where people no longer turn out to vote. “The EVM played a big role in creating lack of faith in the election.”
He added that the evil intentions behind EVMs were proven when it was proven that the presiding officer can cast one percent of the votes if someone’s vote doesn’t match.
The BNP leader alleged that voters were not allowed to vote after their fingerprints were scanned, and the polling agents were threatened and driven out of the centres.
He added that many who are not Dhaka city voters were seen around the polling centres. “In many centres sheaf of paddy [BNP’s election symbol] was not on the EVMs.”