Voting in 6 by-elections held in fair manners: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has said that voting in By-elections to six parliamentary seats that fell vacant following the resignation of BNP lawmakers was held in fair manners.

He said votes were cast approximately 15 to 25 percent. No significant evidence of irregularities or rigging was found in this vote.

He came up with the remarks at Nirbachan Bhaban of the capital’s Agargaon on Wednesday (February 1) afternoon after ending the vote.

The six constituencies are — Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4 and 6, Chapainawabganj-2, 3 and Brahmanbaria-2. The voting started at 8:30 am and ended 4:30 pm on Wednesday (February 1).

CEC said, “Voters turnout at polling stations was relatively low. It may be 15 to 20 or 25 percent. But it cannot be said for sure yet. That will have to wait a little longer.”

Stating that the polling of the by-elections has nearly been completed, he said, maybe the polling is still going on in one or two centers and will be completed soon. There was a total of 40 candidates in six constituencies. Voting was cast through 867 EVMs. The number of voters in all constituencies was 22,54,217.