Describing the Saturday's (Feb 1) voting in the elections to the Dhaka North and South city corporations as a 'farce', the BNP has accused the prime minister of 'violating the polls code'.
"The Dhaka city elections have turned into a farce," Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a media call at the party headquarters after the polls closed.
Flanked by standing committee members, he claimed that the polls opened with a "major violation of the electoral code of conduct".
"After casting her vote, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina solicited votes for boat [Awami League's polls symbol], which tantamount to directly interfering in the election. It's a gross violation of the electoral code of conduct," said Fakhrul.
Despite claiming that the election was "not fair at all", the senior BNP leader said that the party's official reaction will come after the results are in.
Alleging gross rigging in the voting centres, he claimed that the ruling Awami League "has brought in muscle from across the country".
"Our senior leaders have monitored the election. We have been saying that fair elections were not possible through EVMs [electronic voting machines]," Fakhrul said before claiming the chief election commissioner was not able to cast his vote despite several attempts.
Polling agents of BNP candidates have been driven out of the centres, according to him. "Those who stayed even after that were threatened and assaulted and the presiding officers as well law enforcers did nothing".
Outsiders were gathered in strong outside the polling stations, said the senior BNP leader. "Awami League cadres were inside the booths to ensure that votes in favour of paddy sheaf [BNp's polls symbol] were not casted."
Dhaka City voting ends amid low turnout
Dhaka North returning officer disregards Tabith's complaints
EVM fingerprint gaffe hits CEC
City polls amid sporadic clashes
Failed to find oppn mayor candidates' polling agents: EC Talukdar
