Gaibandha-5 bypolls: Awami League followers demand CEC's punishment

 Ruling Awami League-backed candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon and his followers have demanded the withdrawal and punishment of the EC officials, including the Chief Election Commissioner.

They came up with the demands on Wednesday evening soon after the suspension of the entire election at Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by the Election Commission (EC).

The EC cancelled the by-election following allegations of vote rigging and intimidation.

Dozens of the voters protested against the EC’s decision and brought out procession in the area.

They also demanded the publication of results of those polling centres where voting went unperturbed.

 “The EC has cancelled the by-election for mysterious reasons. Results of those polling centres where voting went smoothly must be published while re-election has to be conducted at those polling centres where voting was suspended,” Ripon told a press briefing held at the Bonapara AL office premises following the EC decision.

The EC had set October 12 for holding the by-election of Saghata-Fulchari parliamentary seat, or Gaibandha-5. 

Although the polling began peacefully at 8:00am, allegations of vote rigging and intimidation started to spread within a very short time. The CEC said widespread ‘malpractices’ prompted them to cancel the entire election.

Independents and other candidates started boycotting the election, alleging that the polling centers have been occupied by activists of the ruling party. By 1:00pm, voting at all the polling stations was stopped by the EC.

“The Gaibandha-5 by-election has gone out of control,” the CEC told reporters at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka.  “We’ve noticed from the start that malpractices were taking place and illegal entries were being made at the secret places (booths),” he said.

Upon hearing about the cancellation, voters who couldn’t cast their votes rallied against the EC’s decision. Some cordoned off the Saghata Upazila Parishad and burned effigies of the CEC in front of the office of Fulchari Upazila Nirbahi Officer.