Gaibandha-5 polls: Not a reckless decision, says CEC

UNB, Dhaka ;

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday said that suspension of the election at the Gaibandha-5 constituency was not a “reckless” decision by the Election Commission.

He said that it was rather a “thoughtful” decision, which was taken through consultation with all the commissioners.

The CEC said the commission would decide its next course of action about the by-election after receiving an investigation report as they have formed a three-member committee to probe all allegations of irregularities.

“The Committee will submit their report within seven days. The commission will take its final decision after receiving the report,” he told a news briefing in the EC Headquarters in Dhaka.

The CEC said it would not be logical to evaluate upcoming elections in light of the incidents that happened in Gaibandha as the commission had successfully conducted previous elections in Cumilla City Corporation and Jhenaidah Municipality with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

He also said local administration cooperated in conducting the election in Gaibandha, but the situation went beyond control and it was not possible to restore order during voting.

“We instructed again and again to bring back the order during the voting. The discipline was absent in the entire constituency,” he said.

The commission on Wednesday suspended the by-election at Gainbandha-5 parliamentary seat amid widespread allegations of vote rigging and voter intimidation. The CEC said they had to take the decision because of malpractices on the election day.

According to Section 91 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), if the commission finds that an election isn’t taking place fairly, the EC can stop election in some or the entire constituency, the CEC said as he clarified the reasons behind the suspension.

After the decision, ruling Awami League candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon criticised the commission and demanded that it declare results.

Gaibandha-5 constituency consists of 10 unions of Saghata upazila and 7 unions of Phulchhari upazila.

After former MP and Deputy Speaker of the 11th National Parliament Fazle Rabbi Mia died on July 23 the Gaibandha-5 seat fell vacant.