Zilla Parishad polls fair and peaceful: CEC
Monitoring the polls through CCTV has been a new and good experience, the CEC said
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has said the Zilla Parishad elections were held in a fair and peaceful manner.
"We have monitored the election [through CCTV] from the beginning to the end. We are satisfied. The election was conducted in a very peaceful and orderly manner. No reports of violence, riots or commotions have come to us from anywhere," the CEC said at the Election Commission building after voting concluded in 57 Zilla Parishads across the country.
"Election monitoring through CCTV has been a new experience for us in conducting elections. This will enable fair and beautiful elections in the future," he added.
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In 57 Zilla Parishads, 675 candidates won in the polls vying for three posts – 59 chairman, 463 general members and 153 candidates in the reserved seats.
Another 26 chairmen, 65 general members and 18 contestants from reserved seats have won unopposed before the voting.
The CEC said, "We have been saying since the beginning that we want transparent elections. Our responsibility is whether voters are able to exercise their right to vote. You have seen that no second person went to the polling booth today."
He pointed out that the EC has enhanced its observing capacity with an increased number of cameras installed at polling centres.
Referring to the Gaibandha by-poll, which the EC cancelled, the CEC said, "We witnessed serious irregularities in that election through our CCTV surveillance. The commission, in the end, was forced to cancel the voting there."
He said many have seen that committing irregularities may lead to the voting to be cancelled.
"We feel a positive impact was made in this election [zilla parishad election]," he observed.
Asked about the capacity of CCTV surveillance on a large scale in national elections, he said, "If needed, we will definitely try to build that."
Asked if winning uncontested leaves any negative impact on electoral culture, Habibul Awal said, "We have not yet done that analysis and it is not our matter. Politicians will understand this better. We will not comment on this."
A total of 2,180 candidates fought yesterday's poll. Among them, 92 candidates fought for the chairman post, 1,485 for the posts of member and 603 fought for the reserved seats.
Voting was held in 57 districts of the country from 9am to 2pm.
Voting was supposed to be held in 61 zilla parishads, however, all the candidates of Bhola and Feni were elected unopposed. Besides, polling in two districts – Noakhali and Chapainawabganj – has been suspended by court orders.
