Gaibandha-5 by-polls suspension proves EC’s absolute authority over polls: Hasan

The Election Commission’s decision to cancel Gaibandha-5 by-polls over alleged malpractices has proved its absolute authority in holding elections where the government plays only the role of a facilitator, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday.

“The Election Commission is all in all and their decision is above everything else. Government only plays the role of facilitator,” said the minister about Wednesday voting marred by widespread irregularities.

Talking to reporters at the Secretariat the minister said the EC decision has also rendered irrational BNP’s demand for a neutral government for holding the next general election.

In suspending the voting midway the election body has proved that elections are always held under its authority.

He, however, raised questions about the way the EC moved to suspend the balloting.

“From what I saw yesterday on social media and on various talk shows, it seems that the public is shocked by their (EC) decision,” he observed.

“There were no disturbances anywhere in that constituency. Besides, no polling officer, presiding officer had any complaint. There was no incident of violence,” he mentioned in support of his comment.

The Election Commission took the decision from Dhaka watching the CCTV footage of Gaibandha polling centres, Hasan said.

“Now the camera resolution, internet connectivity of polling centres is a big question. It is a remote area. Looking at the footage from here… That’s a big question as to how clear or accurate the footage was.”

The information minister said, “I have the written report of the presiding officer of 98 centres that the polling was fair without any irregularities.”

This decision of the Election Commission has been questioned as people on the ground say that the voting is fair and free, he added.

“As our candidate said, the polling of the 53 centres could have been postponed. Why was voting cancelled in the remaining centres? Is this question unreasonable?’ asked the minister.

The EC on Wednesday suspended the by-election at Gainbandha-5 parliamentary seat over widespread allegations of vote rigging and voter intimidation, said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.

He said CCTV cameras set up at polling stations were disconnected and the EC officials could not monitor what was going on from a control room at the EC headquarters in Dhaka.

“We thought that if vote rigging had taken place at 51 polling centres, then the election at the rest of the centres would not have a real outcome. As a result, we suspended the entire Gaibandha-5 by-election,” the CEC said.