Municipal Election
Defeated candidates demand re-polling in Sakhipur, Tangail
BNP wants vote recounting in Mymensingh, rigging by ruling AL alleged also in Ghatail municipality
Leaders of Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) have demanded re-election in Sakhipur and Tangail municipalities while BNP leaders demanded recounting of votes in all 63 polling centres of Mymensingh municipality.
Local BNP leaders have also alleged use of ruling party influence to snatch the victory of AL supported candidate in Ghatail municipality of Tangail district.
Elections in the three municipalities were held on January 17.
Leaders of Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) have demanded re-election in Sakhipur and Tangail municipalities, reports our Tangail correspondent.
At a press conference at Tangail Press Club on Monday evening, the KSJL leaders alleged that ruling Awami League has used influence to get their chosen mayoral candidates elected in Sakhipur and Tangail municipalities.
The ruling party men occupied many polling centres in the two municipalities and forced voters to cast their votes to the ruling party supported mayoral candidates, KSJL leaders said at the press conference.
Demanding re-election in the two municipalities, they said although the administrations and law enforcers were informed of the matter instantly, no step was taken to prevent the 'rigging'.
Tangail district unit president of KSJL Abdul Hai, general secretary Rafiqul Islam and KSJL mayoral candidate in Tangail municipality Jamilur Rahman Miron addressed the press conference, among others.
AL supported mayoral candidates Shahidur Rahman and Abu Hanif Azad were elected unofficially at Tangail and Sakhipur municipalities.
Meanwhile, BNP supported mayoral candidate in Ghatail Manjurul Haque alleged that the results of the January 17 election in the municipality was suspended as part of the conspiracy to declare the AL candidate elected.
“Actually Manjurul Haque won the election in Ghatail but the local Awami League lawmaker and his men attacked the election control room and created pressure on the returning officer to declare the AL candidate winner. After failing to do so, they forced the officer to suspend the results,” said Tangail district BNP organising secretary Farhad Iqbal.
Denying the allegations, local AL lawmaker Dr Motiur Rahman claimed that some BNP men forcibly took signature of the AL supported mayoral candidate's polling agent in the result sheet at Ghatail Ideal Primary School (ward No 9) centre and also sent ballot papers out of the centre.
Returning Officer Habibur Rahman said, “The Awami League leaders demanded re-election at ward No 9 centre and I have already informed the Election Commission (EC) in writing. Now the EC will take decision.”
Our Mymensingh correspondent adds: BNP leaders at a press conference yesterday demanded recounting of votes in all 63 polling centres of Mymensingh municipality where election was held on January 17.
“In some polling centres including Muslim Girls School, Gohailkandi Government Primary School, Radha Sundari Girls School, Premier Ideal High School and Mymensingh Medical College centres, there were short differences between total caste votes and total ballot papers that made us suspicious,” goes the written statement read out at the press conference at Mymensingh Press Club auditorium at noon.
“BNP candidate Prof AKM Shafiqul Islam secured the second position gaining 51,001 votes while Awami League backed candidate Ekramul Haque Titu was elected with 53,359 votes in Mymensingh municipality but a total of 2457 votes of the BNP candidate were declared invalid in the election. We suspect the involvement of administration to work for AL backed candidate. So we want recounting,” it adds.
The BNP leaders also alleged that AL backed candidate Ekramul Haque Titu (mayor in charge) violated election code of conducts clearly through using the municipality staff in election campaign and holding several motorcycle processions but the administration did not take any action despite being informed several times.
BNP candidate Prof AKM Shafiqul Islam, former minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former MP Delwar Hossain Khan Dulu, former MP Noorjahan Yeasmin, Prof Sheikh Amjad, BNP district Secretary Abu Wahab Akanda, among others, were present at the press conference.
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