UNB, Dhaka :
The Election Commission has been apparently playing a silent role over a huge number of allegations and objections filed by the candidates of the ongoing upazila elections.
The Commission receives 15-20 applications every day over alleged violations of the election code, intimidation, objections regarding election officials, petitions for recounting the votes and so on, a concerned election official told UNB.
But the EC hardly takes them into cognizance on the pretext of not having specific grounds.
The commission feels it has no responsibility and authority in the matters, shifting the onus onto the shoulders of the returning officers for taking measures over any complaint or allegation.
BNP-backed chairman candidate Zahurul Islam, who suffered defeat in the February 27 election in Jessore’s Chowgachha upazila, alleged that despite frequent complaints, the commission did not take any action following attacks on him and his supporters as well as election anomalies.
The candidate on Thursday submitted a petition with the commission not to publish the gazette on his upazila’s election results, alleging vote-rigging in 28 polling stations out of 80.
He also attached clips of various newspapers that ran the news and photographs of the attack on him on the day voting took place. But an election commissioner suggested he go to court saying that they have nothing to do.
The rub may lie in Islam’s request for the gazette to not be published. Under article 49 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, an election petition shall be presented
to the Election Commission within 45 days after the publication in the official gazette of the name of the returned candidate. The Election Commission will then make arrangement for submission of the election petitions to the concerned Election Tribunals constituted for the purpose by the Election Commission.
Chairman candidate Mohammad Morshed Alam of Mymensingh’s Bhaluka upazila filed an appeal with the commission to recount the votes cast on February 27.
Chairman candidate Lokman Hossain, vice chairman candidate Jahir Sazzad and reserved vice chairman candidate Taslima Parvin of Barisal’ s Gouranadi upazila asked the commission to cancel the unofficial election result, while chairman candidate Gazi Golam Mostafa of Gopalganj’s Tungipara appealed for beefed-up security in 14 polling stations considered as vulnerable in his upazila.
Besides, vice chairman candidate Kamal Uddin of Feni’s Fulgazi upazila requested the commission to change the returning officer in his upazila, in consideration of his alleged bias.
The Election Commission has been apparently playing a silent role over a huge number of allegations and objections filed by the candidates of the ongoing upazila elections.
The Commission receives 15-20 applications every day over alleged violations of the election code, intimidation, objections regarding election officials, petitions for recounting the votes and so on, a concerned election official told UNB.
But the EC hardly takes them into cognizance on the pretext of not having specific grounds.
The commission feels it has no responsibility and authority in the matters, shifting the onus onto the shoulders of the returning officers for taking measures over any complaint or allegation.
BNP-backed chairman candidate Zahurul Islam, who suffered defeat in the February 27 election in Jessore’s Chowgachha upazila, alleged that despite frequent complaints, the commission did not take any action following attacks on him and his supporters as well as election anomalies.
The candidate on Thursday submitted a petition with the commission not to publish the gazette on his upazila’s election results, alleging vote-rigging in 28 polling stations out of 80.
He also attached clips of various newspapers that ran the news and photographs of the attack on him on the day voting took place. But an election commissioner suggested he go to court saying that they have nothing to do.
The rub may lie in Islam’s request for the gazette to not be published. Under article 49 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, an election petition shall be presented
to the Election Commission within 45 days after the publication in the official gazette of the name of the returned candidate. The Election Commission will then make arrangement for submission of the election petitions to the concerned Election Tribunals constituted for the purpose by the Election Commission.
Chairman candidate Mohammad Morshed Alam of Mymensingh’s Bhaluka upazila filed an appeal with the commission to recount the votes cast on February 27.
Chairman candidate Lokman Hossain, vice chairman candidate Jahir Sazzad and reserved vice chairman candidate Taslima Parvin of Barisal’ s Gouranadi upazila asked the commission to cancel the unofficial election result, while chairman candidate Gazi Golam Mostafa of Gopalganj’s Tungipara appealed for beefed-up security in 14 polling stations considered as vulnerable in his upazila.
Besides, vice chairman candidate Kamal Uddin of Feni’s Fulgazi upazila requested the commission to change the returning officer in his upazila, in consideration of his alleged bias.
