Evil force trying to throw fair polls into question: EC senior secretary

Senior Secretary to the Election Commission (EC) Md Alamgir on Sunday said the second phase of the municipality polls was free and fair, but an evil force has committed violence to question the integrity of the ballots. 

Referring to the murder of Tariqul Islam, 45, a BNP-backed councillor-elect in Sirajganj municipality, the EC senior secretary said he was killed when he brought out a victory procession immediately after disclosing the result -- a clear violation of the electoral code of conduct. 

"It was forbidden to hold a victory procession within 48 hours after the polls. However, this kind of unwanted incident like killing is not desirable for anyone," added Md Alamgir.

"No member of law enforcement agencies was present when the victory procession was being brought out. If anyone goes to risky places and gets robbed, law enforcers will not take responsibility for that. You have to take your own responsibility." 

The EC secretary came up with these remarks on Sunday at the Election Commission in Agargaon in response to a question at a press conference.

He said the law enforcement agencies were given strict instructions to remain alert after the election and this kind of violence should not have happened.  

In the second phase of the elections to 60 municipalities across the country, the Awami League mayoral candidates have won in 45 municipalities while BNP mayoral candidates won in four. 

Besides, four Awami League and two BNP "rebel" candidates and two independent candidates were elected. 

One candidate each from the Jatiya Party (JP) and Jasad also won the polls. 

Unfortunately, the result of Kishoreganj Municipality election has been put on hold as the voting in one its centres has been postponed.

The unofficial results of the municipality polls were disclosed by the EC on Sunday.