Tabith, Ishraq reject election results

BNP nominated mayoral candidates for the just-concluded city corporation elections in Dhaka, Tabith Awal and Ishraq Hossain have rejected the polls results. 

They said this on Sunday while they were observing a strike programme called by their party protesting alleged irregularities in the Saturday's elections.

BNP's mayor candidate for the Dhaka South City Corporation Ishraq Hossain said, "The announced results of the city corporation elections were fabricated. The results did not reflect public opinion so we reject this." 

While talking to the media in front of the BNP's central office in Naya Paltan at around 2:30 pm on Sunday, Ishraq said the actual number of votes cast was less than the number shown in the election results.

BNP observed its hartal programme from dawn to 12pm on Sunday. 

After the police had given them an ultimatum, the party leaders and activists left their position from in front of the Naya Paltan office. 

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they would resume the protest after lunch break and prayers. They again started gathering in front of the Naya Paltan central office from 2pm.

BNP candidate Tabith Awal told reporters, "There was not even a minimum level of fairness in this election. We never expected such an election. We are rejecting such a rigged election." 

He added, "The demand for the strike came from the general public. And we are always on the side of the general people, and we will be."

Earlier in the morning, the protesters burned down a symbolic electronic voting machine (EVM).

Meanwhile, a large number of law enforcement officials have been deployed in front of the BNP's central office.