Defeated seek re-voting

 Eight defeated councillor candidates in the April 28 Chittagong City Corporation elections have filed eight cases in the last three days till yesterday, seeking re-voting in their wards.

In their complaints with the Election Tribunal, they raised allegations of rigging, ballot box stuffing with help of law enforcers, occupying of polling centres, and sought cancellation of the results.

Five complainants were aligned with the ruling Awami League and three with BNP. The key accused persons are the elected councillors, mostly from AL.

Tilak Chowdhury, a lawyer of some complainants, said Judge of Election Tribunal Bahauddin Ahmed had accepted the cases but did not give any order yet.

Two cases were filed yesterday -- by pro-AL councillor candidates Md Hossain of Halishahar (ward 26) and Md Shafiqul Islam of Panchlaish (ward 3).

On Monday, former pro-AL councillor Jahangir Alam of Gosaildanga (ward 36), BNP-backed Abdul Malek of Enayet Bazar (ward 22), and AL-blessed Ferdous Begum Munni (in reserved seats for women) of Jalalabad (ward 1) filed three cases.

Three other cases were filed the day before, by pro-AL aspirant Abdus Sabur Litan of Rampur (ward 25), and BNP-backed candidates Mahbubul Alam of Chandgaon (ward 4) and Md Taiob of Purba Bakulia (ward 18). Court sources said two more cases were likely to be filed today.