BNP Places ‘Rigging Evidence’
Votes cast exceed total voters at a Natore-6 centre
Staff Correspondent
BNP yesterday came up with fresh ‘evidence of vote rigging and irregularities’ in the recently held parliamentary election, and said these were the main reasons behind the party’s polls debacle.
Alleging that ballot boxes were filled with so many fake votes to manipulate the election in favour of Awami League (AL), top BNP leaders termed the poll result ‘ghost result’.
To substantiate the allegation, spokesperson of the party Nazrul Islam Khan gave media persons photocopies of the result sheet of polling at Kohelpur High School centre in Raninagar upazila of Naogaon-6 constituency. There were 3,768 voters at the centre but casting of votes was shown to be 3,845.
The result sheet carried official seal and signature of the district election officer of Naogaon, he said.
“How come votes cast exceed the number of voters at a centre? ” the BNP joint secretary general questioned at a press briefing at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The BNP high-ups said this showed the Election Commission (EC) released two different sets of voter lists in violation of the country’s constitution.
The EC has to explain this, they said.
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said they might take up the issue at the election tribunal when it is formed.
Meanwhile, AL candidate Israfil Alam won Naogaon-6 seat beating BNP nominee Anwar Hossain Bulu, who was also present at the press briefing.
Nazrul Islam Khan said vote rigging took place also in other constituencies in the country. Counterfoils of ballot papers were found at many places, and the EC is accountable for this.
“It is regrettable that cases were filed against those who found such counterfoils,” he added.
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, standing committee member of the party, said he was given a CD with voter list without photos but the EC officials had voter list with photos. And there were dissimilarities in voter numbers and serials in the two sets of voter lists.
The BNP leaders said despite such vote rigging and irregularities in the election, party lawmakers will attend parliament session to play a constructive role. But the government will have to create a congenial atmosphere for getting their cooperation, they stressed.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
