CEC rejects TIB’s report on polls irregularities

Staff Correspondent: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on Wednesday trashed the report of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) over vote fraud in the 11^th parliamentary election, saying it is not authentic.

“I’m rejecting it completely. It’s not an authentic report,” the CEC told reporters after a programme at the Election Training Institute in the city’s Agargaon area.

The Commission did not receive any such allegation from the media on the voting day, he said when his attention was drawn to the TIB report published on Tuesday.

In its report, TIB labeled the December-30 general election as ‘controversial’ saying that there had been polls irregularities in 47 out of 50 constituencies it surveyed during the election.

About the criticism of the EC’s role by TIB, the CEC said, “These are indecorous and inappropriate. It shouldn’t have said these.”

He, however, said the Commission will not take any step against such remarks.

Claiming that no such election irregularity took place, Nurul Huda said the EC gleaned information from media, its own officials, electoral inquiry committees and magistrates.

The CEC said there is no authenticity of the allegations brought by TIB.

The TIB on Tuesday said election irregularities took place in 47 out of 50 constituencies it surveyed during the last national election. The constituencies were selected randomly, it said.

It reported the casting of fraudulent votes at one or more centres of 41 constituencies and ballot stuffing in 33 constituencies.

The anti-graft watchdog said polling stations were occupied in 30 constituencies and polling agents obstructed in 29 constituencies. Voters were forced to vote for a particular symbol in 26 constituencies while opposition leaders and activists were beaten up in 11 constituencies.

It recommended appointing honest and neutral people as the chief election commissioner and election commissioners.

The TIB also suggested investigating allegations of violence and breach of electoral code of conduct and taking effective steps based on the findings.


risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 16, 2019/Hasibul/AI