Staff Reporter :The US Ambassador in Dhaka, Marcia Bernicat, and the British High Commissioner, Robert W Gibson, have expressed their dejection with the withdrawal of BNP-backed candidates from the City Corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong. They also laid emphasis on the importance of investigations into the allegations of the irregularities during the elections. The US envoy, Mracia Bernicat, is disappointed to learn of violence during the city corporation elections. She also marked voters’ poor turnout and absence of the BNP-backed candidates in the polling station while paying a visit to a centre at Banani Bidya Niketan School and College in Dhaka North City Corporation area at around 11:00am on Tuesday. Bernicat observed only four voters to cast their votes in 25 minutes during the City Corporation election. Talking to journalists after spending 40 minutes at the polling station, she said the government promised to hold a fair election. “The boycott of the election could not be solution to a problem. If there is any problem with the polling system, one can place his complaints to the Election Commission (EC),” Bernicat said. It is government’s responsibility to ensure people’s right to vote in a democratic system, she said, adding that every citizen should be able to exercise his/her franchise in the elections. As regards the absence of the polling agents of the BNP-backed candidates at the election centre, Bernicat said, “EC should find out the reasons behind the absence of the opposition polling agents.” Regretting over the news of violence during the elections, the US Ambassador hoped that there would be no further violence centering the election and politics. Later, in a Twitter message she expressed her frustration over the violence in the polling stations and the boycott of BNP-backed candidates from the three City Corporations. Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner, Robert W Gibson, also expressed his disappointment over withdrawal of BNP-endorsed candidates from the elections, hoping that the decision would not result in violence or disruption in the two major cities of the country.He also stressed the need for swift and impartial investigations into the allegations of irregularities during the elections. In an official statement, the British High Commissioner also said all party’s response to the day’s event should remain within the law. “The responsibility remains with all parties, the Election Commission, and law enforcement agencies, to ensure that elections can take place in an ordered atmosphere to allow all voters the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights,” Gibson said. The successful candidates should serve the needs and wishes of the voters in both cities, he added. Earlier, he also visited Banani Bidya Niketan School and College during the election in the morning.
