AL sweeps Rajshahi, Sylhet amid record-low turnout

Awami League candidates emerged victorious by huge margins in the city corporation elections in Rajshahi and Sylhet on Wednesday, both marked by the absence of significant competitors and historically low voter turnouts amid a boycott by the main opposition BNP. 

In Rajshahi, Awami League's AHM Khairuzzaman Liton was elected the mayor for the third term by securing 1,60,290 votes while his nearest competitor Murshid Alam from Islamic Andolon Bangladesh got 13,483 votes though he had boycotted the election on 12 June in line with the party's decision.

In Sylhet, AL's mayoral candidate Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury emerged victorious bagging 1,19,991 votes while his nearest competitor Jatiya Party's Nazrul Islam Babul got 50,862 votes. 

The Election Commission announced that Rajshahi recorded a turnout of 56.2%, while Sylhet saw a 46.71% turnout, marking significant drops compared to the previous elections.

In Rajshahi, the turnout in 2018 and 2013 stood at 78.86% and 68.70%, respectively, highlighting the considerable decline witnessed in Wednesday's election. Likewise, Sylhet experienced a drop from around 62% turnout in the previous two elections.

The Election Commission, however, expressed satisfaction with the Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporation polls, emphasising that the elections were conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful environment. 

This trend of diminishing voter participation was not limited to these two cities, as Barishal, Khulna, and Gazipur held over the past one month also faced decreasing turnout.

Barishal's turnout declined from 72.1% in 2013 to 55% in 2018 and further hit a new low of 51.46% in this year's election. Khulna witnessed a decline from 68.70% in 2013 to 57% in 2018, with the lowest recorded turnout of 47.88% in the recent election. Similarly, Gazipur's turnout dropped from 63.69% in 2013 to 57.02% in 2018, reaching a disappointing 48.75% this year.

Despite the lowest turnout in these city corporation elections, the Election Commission remains undeterred and views it as an opportunity for self-reflection.

The Chief Election Commissioner expressed satisfaction with a 50% voter turnout, considering it acceptable, while a turnout of 60%-70% is considered excellent. 

The EC pledged to make efforts to improve these figures in future elections.

EC Secretary Jahangir Alam attributed the low turnout to the boycott of the election by a major political party. 

He highlighted that the absence of the party's leaders and supporters led to reduced voter engagement. The EC encouraged all political parties to participate in the elections to create a more festive atmosphere and increase voter participation, he added.

The Election Commission believes that the completion of all five scheduled city corporation elections, including Sylhet and Rajshahi, will serve as inspiration for stakeholders in the upcoming national elections. 

The CEC expressed optimism that these city elections have been overall positive and will encourage voters to actively participate in the polling process.

"The overall assessment is that the five city elections have been good. This will encourage all to the national elections. Voters will be keen to go to the polling station to vote"

He added that this positive outlook could create a sense of development and inspire politicians, candidates, and voters alike to engage more actively in the voting process.

EC satisfied

The Chief Election Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporation polls, emphasizing that the elections were conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful environment. 

He acknowledged some disruptions caused by heavy rain but assured that voting proceeded without interruption. 

"We had been monitoring the election throughout the day. I would say that the election was conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful environment. There was some disruption due to heavy rain for half an hour. However, the voting did not stop. Naturally, the election took place. To our satisfaction, no untoward incident occurred."

"Voters exercised their right to vote freely. We did not receive reports of any disruptions...we think today's election went well overall."
Meanwhile, in Rajshahi, a woman has been jailed for three days by a mobile court for repeatedly entering a secret voting room with women voters.

When asked whether any action will be taken against the polling officer in this incident, the CEC said, "We will investigate it. On the CCTV, we saw a woman going in multiple times. We ordered taking action within 5-10 minutes. Within half an hour I came to know that the judicial magistrate has sentenced him to three days. This may be an instance of precedence of punishment for malpractice. But we will definitely investigate why the assistant presiding officer did not see it and take action." 

For the first time in Rajshahi City Corporation's 36-year history, elections were held in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in all 155 centres. There were also CCTV cameras in each of the centres.

There were 3,51,982 voters, including 1,80,809 females, to exercise their right of franchise in EVM in 1,153 rooms of 155 polling centres in 30 wards from 8am to 4pm without any break.

Around 3,514 members of police, 400 personnel of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 200 of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and 1,860 of Ansar discharged election duties.

The Sylhet City Corporation election also was held through EVMs on Wednesday.

According to the office of returning officers, there are a total of 4,86,605 voters in the city. Eight candidates were contesting for the mayor post where 273 for the ward councillor post and 87 for the reserved ward councillor post. There were 1,364 polling booths in 190 polling centres.