CEC cites reason for low voter turn out

From the morning Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections have come under the threat of rain. Most of the voting centers in the capital were voter less due to rain.

After casting his vote at IES Higher Secondary School at Uttara sector 5 on Thursday morning the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda mentioned two reasons for low voter turnout.

He said, short period or for one year the mayor and councilors will be elected. For this reason there may be less interest for the voters. As there is no participation of all parties and there is no competition among the candidates, so these are also may be reason for low voter turnout.

The CEC said, Election Commission is not responsible for low voter turnout in the mayoral by-election and Dhaka North and South city councilor elections. Political parties and candidates are responsible for for this. I have observed comparatively low voter turnout.

Whether the environment is fair or not- when newsmen asked about this he said, all out measures have been taken on behalf of the election commission to make the election fair. There is no reason to be not fair.

The post of mayor in Dhaka North City Corporation turned vacant following the death of Annisul Huq. In the ongoing by-election five candidates are competing. They are- Awami League candidate Md. Atiqul Islam (Boat), Jatiya Party’s Shafin Ahmed (Plough), Md. Anisur Rahman Dewan of National Peoples’ Party (Mango), Shahin Khan of Progressive Democratic Party (Tiger) and Independent candidate Mohammad Abdur Rahim (Table clock).

In the newly included 18 general wards 116 contestants are participating while 45 candidates are contesting in six reserved wards for councilor elections under North City Corporation. On the other hand 125 candidates are contesting in 18 general wards and 24 candidates are participating in six reserved wards under South City Corporation.

AH