No irregularities were seen in Cumilla city election: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Monday said no irregularities were seen in Cumilla City Corporation (CuCC) election.

Talking to reporters here, he said: "We observed the election till 8 pm of the polls day. No irregularities were seen. We were observing the situation through CCTV."

About the allegation that the election result was changed at the last moment after the returning officer received one phone call, Awal said it was quite impossible to change the polls result, reports BSS.

"I also made one or two phone calls (to him). The returning officer nervously told me that he was in trouble. I was hearing huge sound there. I thought he was beaten," he said.

The CEC said he phoned to the Deputy Commissioner and Police Superintendent immediately and he was informed that they were observing the matter.

"Then I told the returning officer that there would not be any problem. Later, the returning officer informed me that police come there. There was chaotic situation for only 15 minutes. After that, we had seen that the returning officer announced the election result with relax," he said.

About the rally brought out during the announcement of the polls result, Awal said people bought out the rally emotionally, which was unexpected for the EC but expected for them.

Responding to a question, the CEC said the EC did not instruct Cumilla-6 MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar to leave his constituency but requested him to do so.

"We did not see that he was joining the election campaign publicly. But some alleged that he (Bahar) tactically participated in the election campaign. We had an expectation that if we request him, there would not be any criticism. The Election Commission could not order any one to leave his/her locality," the CEC added.