44pc votes cast in Dhaka, Ctg city polls
Vote casting at the dodgy city polls to Chittagong and two halves of Dhaka cities was 44 percent, an official at the Election Commission said today.
The eight-hour voting for Chittagong and Dhaka north, south cities was held yesterday amid widely reported irregularities and sans the main opposition candidates.
However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad has said that the votes were cast in a free and fair manner.
The Daily Star teams of 34 reporters witnessed ballot stuffing by ruling party men in the presence of election officials at 12 centres in Dhaka and five centres in Chittagong.
Throughout the election, media was barred at many places from covering the elections while at some, journalists were assaulted and abused.
The votes ended with Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon emerging as the mayors of Dhaka and AJM Nasir Uddin for Chittagong – all blessed by the ruling Awami League.
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