Elections 2015- A Detailed Report

MASSIVE ELECTORAL FRAUDIN BANGLADESH CITYELECTIONS 2015 : ADETAILED REPORT

MASSIVE ELECTORAL FRAUDIN BANGLADESH CITYELECTIONS 2015 : ADETAILED REPORT

MASSIVE ELECTORAL FRAUDIN BANGLADESH CITYELECTIONS 2015 : A

2 MASSIVE ELECTORAL FRAUD IN BANGLADESH CITY ELECTIONS 2015 : A DETAILED REPORT

INTRODUCTION

On the 28th of April, 2015, local mayoral polls were held in three city corporations, Dhaka City North, Dhaka City South and Chittagong City, amid allegations of massive vote rigging and electoral fraud. Though numerous instances of electoral malpractices were caught on camera and exposed by journalists, election observers and voters alike, they were flatly dismissed by the ruling party head of government and the Election Commission, who termed the elections fair and credible, despite scathing reprimands from the international scene, including foreign diplomats and election observers in Bangladesh.

In retrospect, it was observed that altogether 75,000 personnel of several law-enforcing agencies had been deployed to ensure safety of the voters and maintain law and order in Dhaka South, Dhaka North and Chittagong city corporations. However, the security apparatus proved to be just another front aiding in the massive vote rigging operations throughout the three city corporations

48 candidates stood for contesting the positions of mayor and nearly 1,200 candidates vied for the position of councillors in general and reserved seats.

Sixteen people contended for the office of the mayor of Dhaka North in its first election after the DCCs bifurcation in November 2011, while 281 candidates contested for general councillor positions in its 36 wards. 89 were in the race for the 12 wards reserved for women councillors.

Twenty candidates contested to be Mayor of Dhaka South. 390 contested for general councillor posts in 57 wards in Dhaka South, while 97 contended for 19 wards reserved for women councillors there.

In Chittagong, 12 candidates contested for the mayors office while 217 battled it out for general councillor posts in 41 wards and 62 for 14 wards reserved for women councillors.

A total of 1,870,753 voters in Dhaka South, 2,345,374 in Dhaka North and 1,813,449 in Chittagong were poised to vote on Tuesday to elect mayors and councillors. [1]

SUPPORTERS OF AWAMI LEAGUE-BACKED CANDIDATE STORM GULSHAN CENTRE, STUFF BALLOT BOXES

The voting fiasco that was to be unleashed by the Awami League started long before any voting was scheduled to even begin.

According to a report by the Financial Express, which is given below, vote rigging began 10 hours before any voting was scheduled to even begin.


Picture: Awami League-backed councillor candidate Zakir Hossain Babul's supporters charge towards Jubaida Khanam, sister of 'renegade aspirant' Afroz Habib. Source:BDnews24 [3]

Supporters of a ruling Awami League (AL)-backed councillor candidate have allegedly stuffed ballot boxes in a Dhaka North City Corporation polling station even 10 hours before voting was to begin. Charges of storming the Gulshan centre were brought against the candidate by supporters of his 'renegade' rival on Monday night. Police arrested 10 including the independent candidate, Afroz Habib, and his brother retired Brigadier General Refayat Ullah over the fracas at Kalachandpur High School centre. Refayat Ullah, also the chief polling agent of the candidate, was claiming that he was being detained because he had protested against supporters of ruling party-backed Zakir Hossain Babul stuffing ballot boxes. The Habib camp raised allegations that people of Babul took control of the centre with the help of police. Supporters of Babul reportedly threatened a journalist for speaking to Habibs people. A video shot at the site showed a ruling party supporter, who made the threat, sporting t-shirt with a slogan for Babul. He was locked in a heated argument with Habibs supporters and sister. Supporters of both the camps were found angry outside the polling centre. Kalachandpur High Schools teacher Jubaida Khanam, sister of councillor aspirant Habib, said: We got news that some outsiders were stamping false votes here with help of law enforcers and immediately put up a resistance along with locals. Senior police officials including Gulshan police OC visited the centre. When asked, a


policeman outside the centre, with a name tag that read Mannaf, according to a news agency. [2] [3]

VOTING STARTED AT 8 AM, WITH PM SHEIKH HASINA CASTING FIRST VOTE

Polling began in three cities in Dhaka and port city Chittagong at 8:00 am amid majorproblems including absence of agents in many booths and intimidation by police over journalists and activists of some candidates, along with news of ballot stuffing from various places already gracing the breaking headlines in the news.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College center at about 8:00am.In Tejgoan Government Girls College center in Dhaka North City, voting was delayed in some booths due to absence of polling agents.

In the Dhaka South City, the ruling Awami League men started casting votes with chanting slogan of fish symbol inside the polling center of Shahid Zia Girls School center at Jatrabari in the city.

Poling agents of many candidates did not show up at three booths set for male voters in the polling center.

Lutfar Rahman, a judicial magistrate who visited the center at 8:40am to 8:50am, barred photo journalists from taking photos from inside the center. Polling officer Dewan Hafizur Rahaman, however, said, voting was progressing free and fair manner.

In Mirpur Bangla College and Gulshan Model College centers in Dhaka North City, police obstructed journalists from entering the centers. [4]

VOTE RIGGING FEST AT DHAKA CITY COLLEGE CENTRE, BESIDE WHERE THE PM HAD CAST VOTE HERSELF

The day started high on hopes for a fair election. But it was not long before the optimism was blatantly doused.

Activists of the pro-ruling Chhatra league by and large occupied polling stations with police and other law enforcement agencies lending them a helping hand.

To cover their tracks, they made sure the journalists' access to the scenes of wrongdoings was restricted.

Take, for instance, the Dhaka College centre, the centre beside Dhaka City College, where the Prime Minister herself had cast her vote at 8:00 am in the morning. At around 9:00am, about 100 activists of BCL stormed into the near-empty venue.


Picture: About 100 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) stormed into Dhaka College centre. Split in separate groups, they entered all the six polling booths around 9:00am and started casting votes at their will. Source: Daily Star [5]

What was essentially a sedate environment was filled with cacophony. Split in groups, they took control of all the six booths of centre No. 343 and started casting votes at will.

They grabbed the ballot paper books, stamped them with the Hilsa symbol of Sayeed Khokon, the Awami League-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka City South, and stuffed them into the ballot boxes.

They worked through the books as fast as they could, as if they were on a timed mission.

This went on for about 20 minutes, and the presiding officer, Sujit Kumer Dey, looked helpless. After all, the police personnel were coordinating the BCL men's unlawful activities.

There was no protest from the polling agents either. How could they? All of them were working for the Hilsa symbol.


The police personnel on duty asked this correspondent not to stay at the centre for longer than five minutes.

There is an order from the high-ups that journalists can stay inside only for five minutes, a policeman said.

By 9:20am, the BCL men walked out of the polling booths and were on their way to the next centre.

Many voters later told this correspondent that their votes were already cast, while some found their ballot papers completely missing. [5][6]

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS BY DAILY STAR CORRESPONDENTS

At Dhanmondi Government Girls' High School around 12:40pm, a polling agent of Nasrin Begum, a candidate for the reserved seat of ward No. 14, 15 and 18, was seen filling ballot boxes with voting papers in the presence of an assistant presiding officer.

When this correspondent arrived, the door to the polling booth was shut, which is a violation of voting rules. The entry and the exit to polling centres or booths should remain open during the voting hours.

However, this correspondent was still privy to the goings-on inside the room through the window: a middle-aged person was seen folding the ballot papers and passing them on to another man, who was wearing an identity card of the Kettle symbol, for sticking them into the ballot boxes.

This correspondent also snapped photographs of the whole incident.

The men, upon learning that a journalist was present, opened the door.

It turns out the middle-aged person was the assistant presiding officer of the centre.

Soon, a plainclothes man, identifying himself as a policeman, approached this correspondent and asked him to leave the venue.

When this correspondent sought to speak to the presiding officer, the man removed him from the centre and took him to a policeman named Jamiul and said: This person is a journalist and he took photographs. What should I do?

The duo then asked this correspondent to delete whatever photographs he had taken.


Despite having the requisite permits to access the polling centre at all times, police still stopped two correspondents of The Daily Star when they wanted to enter Mirpur Bangla School and College, which was centre No. 145, around 9:30am.

After arguing for a while, they entered but the police did not allow the accompanying photographer in.

Police again intercepted them as they were speaking to the presiding officer, as one of the correspondents was filming the conversation on his mobile phone.

The law enforcers simply ousted the correspondents from the centre. Our seniors have strictly instructed us not to allow any cameras or filming inside the venue, he said.

The police personnel, however, failed to show any proof of the instruction when the correspondents asked for one.

One of the correspondents returned to the venue at 2:30pm and saw the polling agent of the Table Clock symbol grabbing a bundle of ballot papers and stamping them in a corner of booth No. 1.

When the correspondent sought to know the number of votes cast until then, the polling officer asked him to come again at 3:15pm.

The correspondent returned at 3:45pm but found the booth empty. All the votes were cast by 3:15pm, said Assistant Presiding Officer Golam Faruk.

At about 3:50pm, news floated that a magistrate was calling everyone in at the centre, and all those present, who happened to be just the BCL men and the polling officers, straight away got busy staging the scenes of a typical polling centre. Some became dummy agents and some voters.

At 1:35pm at Kabi Nazrul Govt College, a group of men, all supporters of Khokon, were seen stuffing voting papers into ballot boxes at a booth.

The Daily Star correspondent captured the scene on his mobile phone and the group ran towards him and intimidated him to delete the photos. More people arrived and forced the reporter to erase the photos in front of them.

The presence of voters was sparse at the centre, with agents and supporters of Khokon loitering about.

Voting at three centres at Suritola High School was seen suspended when another correspondent of The Daily Star dropped by at 9:30am due to allegations of rigging.


Outside, people were shouting vote thieves after finding out that their votes were already cast.

I came to cast my vote, but somebody has already done it. What do I do now? said Aslam, a voter from the area.

At about 11:03am, ten men wearing the Hilsa symbol were seen stuffing ballots into boxes at Kamalapur Sher-e-Bangla Railway High School.

As The Daily Star correspondent attempted to photograph the scene, two of them shouted, Don't take photos. You will be vanished as soon as you get out of here.

At the Kamalapur BRTC Bus Depot centre for men, police warned three journalists, including one from this newspaper, not to take mobile phones or cameras inside the venue.

The Election Commission and our bosses instructed us not to allow journalists with mobile phones and cameras, said an on-duty policeman, who, however, was not wearing his name tag.

Voters returned without casting votes as police locked the Maniknagar Govt Primary School centre around 12 noon. Its presiding officer, Sohelur Rahman Khan, said there was no atmosphere of voting at the centre.

The Scholastica School centre in Uttara was taken over by local AL leaders and their supporters as early as the first hour of voting.

Airport Thana AL Senior Vice-president Shahjahan Mondal along with his supporters was seen dictating the entire polling process, as the law enforcers played the role of silent onlookers.

Around 11:00am, batons in hand, supporters of the Hilsa symbol chased some voters of their opponent candidate out of Dhaka Nesaria Madrasa centre in Gendaria.

Later, a voter, Pappu, complained that he could not cast his vote as there was no ballot paper.

I was told that my vote has already been cast, a woman said as she was coming out of Badda Girls High School at 1:30pm.

At around 2:00pm, five men of the Table Clock symbol were seen hurriedly stamping ballot papers at Shahjadpur Model Govt Primary School.

When the correspondent entered the booth, they told him not to disturb. We are working here, one of them said and pushed the reporter out of the room and bolted it.


The correspondent then approached the group of policemen standing right outside the room. They said the election was going on smoothly, as none of the voters raised any complaint.

Its presiding officer, Jahangir Alam, said voting was going on well.

The reporter then moved to the nearby Badda Govt Primary School, where he saw a group of men sticking ballots into the boxes as quickly as possible.

As soon as they saw the correspondent, three of them weighed in and drove him out of the room.

Police locked the main gate of Shahjadpur Nazar Madrasa centre as 60-70 youths of the Table Clock symbol were rigging votes inside.

At that time, a voter carrying his national identity card attempted to enter the centre but he was not allowed. I have been here three times since morning and was unsuccessful in casting my vote. [5]

CHITTAGONG CITY CORPORATION

In Chittagong, at least 50 people were denied voting rights as AL men already cast their votes at Patenga Board Government Primary School between 8:00am and 1:00pm, according to The Daily Star correspondents based in the port city.

No voter was seen at Chittagong Shilpakala Academy centre at 2:30pm. A woman agent of AL-backed mayoral candidate was found to stamp ballot papers in presence of an assistant presiding officer.

As two reporters of The Daily Star appeared, she stopped and went back to her seat. The assistant presiding officer was silent.

BCL men threw stones at the Hossain Ahmedpara Government Primary School centre to take control of the venue.

Pro-government activists blasted crackers outside the polling centre at Government Commercial Institute at 10:10am.

Local AL men and outsiders forcibly entered the centre at Udayan Kindergarten at 9:00am and they barred The Daily Star correspondent from taking photographs.

AGENTS USED MOBILES

In a gross violation of electoral rules, the polling agents were seen using their mobile phones at every centre. They were constantly talking to each other and coordinating their activities.


For instance, at Dhaka College, the agents of Hilsa symbol were seen updating one another inside the booth. [5]

JOURNALISTS BARRED FROM OBSERVING POLLING; ATTACKED BY AL MEN IN MANY PLACES

Journalists were barred by police personnel from entering several polling stations in the capital.

Dhaka Tribune reporter Adil Shakhawat and photojournalist Syed Zakir Hossain reported from Mirza Abbas Women College polling centre that policemen did not allow journalists to enter the polling centre for first half an hour in the morning.

We were also not allowed to enter Deep Shikha School at North Shajahanpur in the morning. On-duty police man said journalists were not allowed as per the presiding officers order, said Adil.

When Dhaka Tribune reporter asked Hawa Bibi and Engrez Begum, two voters who came out of Deep Shikha School centre, they said they were not allowed to vote.

Adil further added that the same situation prevailed at all the polling centres of wards no 185-188 in the area.

Meanwhile, an Awami League-backed councillor candidate for Ward 9 allegedly harassed two female polling agents of BNP-backed candidate Mirza Abbas at Dilkusha Government Primary School.

Journalists were also barred from Dhaka University Laboratory School polling centre, another Tribune reporter Ibrahim Hossain Ovi reported.

The on-duty police officials said they have got direction from the police high ups that no camera would be allowed inside the polling centres.

However, there was no such direction from the Election Commission.

Journalists attacked by ruling party cadres:

It was reported by news media that journalists were subject to attacks by ruling party cadres in several places in Dhaka City North and South and in Chittagong City corporation elections. The attacks on the journalists were carried out during the collection of news, reporting and taking pictures during voting. News of six such separate attacks were gathered throughout the day. The injured journalists have stated


that they were attacked while reporting the widespread instances of ballot boxes looting, vote rigging and the occupation of voting centres by the ruling party cadres.

Picture (left): Daily Jugantor reporter Obaid Ongshuman attacked by AL cadres, Source:Progress Bangladesh.

Among the injured are Dainik Jugantar newspaper staff reporter Obaid Ongshuman and senior photo journalist Shameen Noor, Jamuna television camera person Akhlaq Safa, Ekattor television senior Reporter Azad Talukder and camera person Jahirul Islam and Prothom Alo reporter Sujoy Mohajon.

Dainik Jugantar newspaper staff reporter Obaid Ongshuman informed that he was in charge of gathering news from Sobujbagh area of the capital. At a time during voting, men of 5 no. ward Awami League supported candidate Ashrafuzzaman Fareed (Radio symbol) pounced upon

supporters of an independent candidate Azad Mohammad Sadequl Islam in front of Ahmedabad High School premises. At one point, Fareeds cadres went to the house of his opponent and began attacking the men there. After that Fareeds men entered Kamalapur High School centre and stamped upon about 300 ballots in front of the police, who even helped the ruling party men in this regard. Obaid Ongshuman stated that when the men noticed him taking picture stills and video of the rigging incident, they attcked him and seized his camera equipment and mobile phone. He suffered severe injuries as the cadres attacked him on the street outside the polling centre with shouts of Catch him! Catch him. His clothes were also pictured as torn in the attack.


On the other hand, Jamuna television camera person Akhlaq Safa was injured in an attack in front of Afroza Abbas, wife of mayoral candidate Mirza Abbas.

At 8:30 in the morning, Dainik Jugantar newspaper senior photo journalist Shameen Noor was attacked by Awami League cadres at Segunbagicha School centre. The attackers held him hostage for some time, before other photo journalists came to his rescue.

On the other hand, Ekattor television senior Reporter Azad Talukder and camera person Jahirul Islam were attacked by ruling party cadres at Halishohor KG and High school centre in Chittagong city, when they were reporting on clashes between opponents at 10 am.

Prothom Alo reporter Sujoy Mohajon was publicly attacked by cadres at Shahjahanpur Mahbub Ali Institute where he was investigating an incident of vote rigging. The attackers snatched his two mobile phones, ID card and Elections commission papers in the attack. It had been reported earlier that election officials had been held at the above said centre in order to allow mass vote rigging by hundreds of ruling party supporters.[7]

RAMPANT AL RIVAL CLASHES FOR CONTROLLING VOTE RIGGING

The activists of rival candidates from ruling Awami League clashed with each other at several polling stations in three city corporation elections in the capital and Chittagong in a bid to rig votes and occupy centres.

Awami League had at least 30 wards in the capital where rebel candidates were giving tough challenges to the party backed councillor candidates. Police and other law enforcement agencies remained inactive during such clashes, rather barred voters and oppositions polling agents from taking part, alleged voters.

Clashes among the rivals had taken place at Kafrul, Kabi Nazrul College in Old Dhaka, Hazaribagh, Suritola and some other parts in the capital.

Awami League activists damaged police rifles, broke ballot boxes and polling booths when they attacked three polling stations at Uttar Kafrul High school at about 11am.The incident left 557 No. polling station presiding officer Mazharul Islam badly injured.The clash between AL supported councilor candidates Mahmuda Begum and rebel candidate Motiur Rahman also caused suspension of voting for about two hours at all five polling stations.

Voters said that supporters of Mahmuda Begum attacked those of Motiur Rahman at about 11am alleging that Motiurs men were rigging the election. Both the parties were


locked in clash as they vandalized at least 10 ballot boxes of polling booth Nos 557 and 558.

In Old Dhaka, at least 12 people including a senior staff photojournalist of New Age, Indrajit Ghosh, were injured in a clash between the ruling party rival candidates in front of Kabi Nazrul Government College polling centre in the morning.

The polling in the centres (648 and 649) of the college were suspended for around two hours and resumed at around 2pm.

Presiding officer of the centre number 649, Kazi Md Sanaullah, said a group of people created chaos there and stuffed ballot papers.

We had to stop vote casting for the lack of security, he said.The followers of rebel candidate, Haji Mohammad Selim, and Awami League sponsored candidate, Yar Mohammad Yaru, engaged in a clash.


Picture: Supporters of Awami League councillor candidate Mahmuda Begum at 16 no. ward, Kafrul, attacked police and broke two rifles.

Link: http://www.sheershanewsbd.com/2015/04/28/78709

Meanwhile, polling was suspended in all six booths at Pogose School center in old part of Dhaka South City and at least 15 people were injured as agents and activists of rivals clashed over trying to forcibly cast votes.

Associates of the ruling party backed Abdur Rahman Majhi and rebel Sahabudddin Jhony clashed with each other around 9am while trying to take control of the polling station for rigging, reported New Age correspondent preset there.Presiding Officer Moksed Ali has decided to stop casting of votes in such situation.Activists of Awami League backed and its rebel candidates vandalised ballot boxes and shredded ballot papers at Suritola Primary School center of Dhaka South City Corporation elections at around 9am, one hour after the polls began.They also attacked and vandalised the ballot boxes after finding that many of their votes had already been cast by others.


Presiding officer suspended polling at all booths in the centre and law enforcers were trying to control the situation as the voters were demonstrating outside the centre.Voting was suspended at Womens High School for hours as activists of Awami League rivals Masud Hasan Shamim and Golam Mostafa locked in clashes for occupying polling station and rigging, said locals.

Clashes between Awami League and its rebel candidates also took place at Mirpur National School polling center, Hazaribagh, Adabar and elsewhere in the capital.New Age correspondent in Chittagong reported Awami League candidate Ershad Mamuns and rebel candidate Jashimuddins men engaged in clashes with each other leaving several injured around 10 am at Hazi Daud Government Primary School.


Picture: (Left) An armed cadre brandishing weapons at a factional clash between two opposing councillor candidates at Chittagong City Elections. Source: Shomokal (Right)Armed cadre brandishing weapons at factional clashes between groups of Awami League supported and unsupported but affiliated councillor candidates at Dhaka City South. Source: Focus Bangla

Awami League and its rebel candidates also locked in clashes at Chawkbazar, Pahartoli, Uttar Agrabad, Dakshin Kalisahar and elsewhere of the port city. When approached, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia denied that there were any incidents of election irregularities and occupying of polling stations.


POLLING CENTRES OCCUPIED, BALLOT PAPERS SEIZED AND BURNT IN PRESENCE OF POLICE

Mass instances of election rigging were observed at various polling centres of Dhaka North and Dhaka South; election centres were illegally occupied and taken over, ballot papers were burnt, weapons were openly brandished and attacks were carried out at polling centres throughout the election areas.

In Dhaka South, six voting centres in areas including Jatrabari, Motijheel, Tikatuli and Paltan were taken over by Juboleague cadres, who were seen stuffing the ballot boxes. No voters were observed to enter these polling centres in midst of the incidents. Security personnel police, RAB, BGB and Ansar were seen standing idly by as the the electoral offences and violations occurred in front of their own eyes.

At 9 am, local Juboleague cadres, about a 100, forced out all those present at Power Development Board High School voting station at Jatrabari. They were led by 50 no. ward Juboleague leader Harun; all men were donning the blue colored fish emblem of the Awami League backed candidate. They were seen seizing ballot paper books from the assistant election presiding officer, and putting seal upon them till 10 am in the morning.

At 10:15 am in the morning, the local Awami league cadres also seized the Muradnagar High School voting centre at Jatrabari, where they blocked the road and began stamping ballot papers at will. The police suddenly sprang into action at about 10:30 am when a team of foreign observers appeared at the polling centre. Police blew whistles to clear away the Awami League men before letting the observer team inside.

At the same time, Samirunnesa voting center and Muradpur Madrassah centre, both located beside the above centre, witnessed Awami League men stamping ballot papers at will.

At Dhaka South, all polling agents were forced out of Sher-e-Bangla High School centre at Tikatuli by Juboleague cadres led by A Juboleague leader Polash from Jatrabari. When asked about what they were doing, he replied, Nobody is there to hamper us. I have forced out everybody from here. This is our area. We will stamp as many votes as required.


Picture: At Sher-e-Bangla Railway High School centre in Kamalapur, two groups of Awami League were seen clashing in the presence of the police, with ballot paper seizing, attacks, fighting and finally setting fire onto the ballot papers. Voting was stopped in the centre. Source: Progress Bangladesh [8]

The most notorious polling centre was Paltan Girls High School. Juboleague cadres took possession of ballot paper books in front of journalists and started stamping them in public view. After completing the job, they were seen depositing them all into the ballot boxes.

On the other hand, at Sher-e-Bangla Railway High School centre in Kamalapur, two groups of Awami League were seen fighting each other in the presence of the police.


The armed skirmishes saw ballot paper seizing, attacks, fighting and finally setting fire onto the ballot papers. Voting was stopped in the centre.

All the above incidents occurred in front of the security personnel. Police were seen acting as silent bystanders to the incidents that occurred in front of them. [8]

BNP announces boycott of elections in all centres

BNP boycotted mayoral elections of Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations just four hours after the voting started on Tuesday, citing that the polls were 'rigged, farcical and marked with irregularities'.

"This illegal government and the Election Commission (EC) have deprived the people of fulfilling their expectation. There were no polling agents in the polling centres. All centres were usurped by the ruling party cadres. There was vote robbery in connivance with the police and the RAB. We will not accept this election. We boycotted this election," BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed said this at a press briefing at around 12:00 noon at the party's central office in the city.

Picture: BDnews24


Adorsho Dhaka Andolon (ADA)-nominated and BNP-backed mayoral candidates for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mirza Abbas' wife Afroza Abbas and Tabith Awal, mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), convenor of ADA Dr Emajuddin Ahmed, senior journalist Mahfuzullah, BNP vice-chairman Selima Rahman, among others, were present.

"We (BNP) participated in the elections with a big hope. We hoped that we would strengthen our democratic movement through victory in the city corporation elections," he said.

"In many places our polling agents were not allowed to enter into the polling centres. Many agents were arrested. Thousands of police, BGB and RAB personnel were deployed for ensuring security in the elections. But they (Police, BGB and RAB) were basically deployed for ensuring winning of the ruling party-backed candidates. They themselves sealed ballot papers and stuffed ballot boxes. EC will declare that the elections were free and fair. In real terms five per cent people did not exercise their franchise."

"Dr Emajuddin Ahmed went to Dhaka College centre for casting his vote. He was harassed. The city dwellers of Dhaka and Chittagong and people will never accept the elections," he added.

Afroza Abbas said, "I visited different polling centres at about 7:30 am and was also prepared for casting my vote. At that moment I got the news that many polling centres were took over. I first went to Fakirapool Kamar Ali Lane, where my agents were beaten and forcefully expelled from the centres. I was also harassed. Many media persons were also harassed. Their cameras were damaged. All the votes were cast by the ruling party cadres."

"Let the countrymen know how Awami League cadres took control of the polling centres," she urged media.

Tabith Awal said, "What happened today (Tuesday) was not election."

He said people were brought from outside Dhaka by bus and microbus. They were allowed to enter into the polling centres. They cast votes in favour of the ruling party candidates.

"My polling agents at Tejgaon centre were beaten and forced to get out from the centres by the ruling cadres. Only ruling party candidates' agents were allowed to enter into the polling centres," he alleged. [9]


Scenes of Empty Voting stations

On the next page are scenes of some of the empty polling stations after opposition affiliated candidates announced a boycott of elections in light of mass rigging less than four hours after the start of voting.

Picture: A voting centre at Dhaka (Source: Prothom Alo) [10]


Picture: A voterless election centre at Dhaka (Source: Dainik Barta)

Picture: Nawab Habibullah Model School and College (Source: Prothom Alo) [10]


Picture: A voting centre at Uttara (Source: Prothom Alo) [10]

Picture: Empty voting centre at Banani Biddyaniketon School and College (Source: Prothom Alo) [10]


SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF VOTE RIGGING IN CENTRES

Clashes at Kobi Nazrul College centre and vote suspension at Suritola voting centres

Voting at Kabi Nazrul College centre in old Dhaka remained suspended following a clash between the supporters of two councillor aspirants Tuesday morning.

The Swedish ambassador, Johan Frisell, along with many of the embassy staff was trapped inside the college for 45 minutes during the clash. He had gone to visit the site at 11:00am.

Picture: Clashes at Kabi Nazrul College led to suspension of voting (Source: Daily Star) [11]

The activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of Awami League, allegedly occupied the polling centre and had been stuffing votes in of favour the AL-backed candidates.

The clash ensued around 11:40am when the independent candidates of ward No. 42, who protested the vote rigging, came under the attack of the BCL men. Police lobbed two tear gas shells to disperse the agitated activists. Presiding officer Abul Kalam Azad however told the correspondent that the voting was continuing though Prothom Alo reporters found no voters inside the centre.

25 MASSIVE ELECTORAL FRAUD IN BANGLADESH CITY ELECTIONS 2015 : A DETAILED REPOR

Meanwhile, voting at two centres in Suritola area in the capital remainedhour after the city corporation polls began in the morning.

Sowkat Ali, a presiding officer, of the polling centre, told returning officer asked him to suspend voting at the Suritola Government High School where the three centres have been set up. After around two hours, voting resumed at one of the three centres. The presiding officer however could not mention any reason behind the decision.

Talking to the Daily Star correspondent, many voters alleged that they couldtheir votes as they did not find any ballot box at the centres. Rokeya, a voter, said she could not find any ballot box in the booth around 8:30am. Another voter Aslam alleged, "I could not cast my vote. I am not involved with politics. Why cantAnother person has already cast my vote."

The local people at Old Dhakas Suritola polling station agitated, alleging that they could not cast their votes. A ballot box was also broken in the polling station at 10:00am. When connected, the Election Commissioner Mohammad Shah Nawaz said the vote casting has been suspended due to the fury among the supporters of the candidates.

Picture: A broken ballot box is pictured at Suritola polling station. Photo: Monirul Alam(Source: Prothom Alo)[12]

MASSIVE ELECTORAL FRAUD IN BANGLADESH CITY ELECTIONS 2015 : A DETAILED REPOR

Meanwhile, voting at two centres in Suritola area in the capital remainedhour after the city corporation polls began in the morning.

Sowkat Ali, a presiding officer, of the polling centre, told Daily Starreturning officer asked him to suspend voting at the Suritola Government High School

three centres have been set up. After around two hours, voting resumed at one of the three centres. The presiding officer however could not mention any reason

correspondent, many voters alleged that they couldtheir votes as they did not find any ballot box at the centres. Rokeya, a voter, said she could not find any ballot box in the booth around 8:30am. Another voter Aslam alleged, "I could not cast my vote. I am not involved with politics. Why cant I cast my vote? Another person has already cast my vote." [11]

The local people at Old Dhakas Suritola polling station agitated, alleging that they could not cast their votes. A ballot box was also broken in the polling station at 10:00am.

, the Election Commissioner Mohammad Shah Nawaz said the vote casting has been suspended due to the fury among the supporters of the candidates.

A broken ballot box is pictured at Suritola polling station. Photo: Monirul Alam

MASSIVE ELECTORAL FRAUD IN BANGLADESH CITY ELECTIONS 2015 : A DETAILED REPORT

Meanwhile, voting at two centres in Suritola area in the capital remained suspended an

Daily Star reporters that returning officer asked him to suspend voting at the Suritola Government High School

three centres have been set up. After around two hours, voting resumed at one of the three centres. The presiding officer however could not mention any reason

correspondent, many voters alleged that they could not cast their votes as they did not find any ballot box at the centres. Rokeya, a voter, said she could not find any ballot box in the booth around 8:30am. Another voter Aslam alleged,

I cast my vote?

The local people at Old Dhakas Suritola polling station agitated, alleging that they could not cast their votes. A ballot box was also broken in the polling station at 10:00am.

, the Election Commissioner Mohammad Shah Nawaz said the vote casting has been suspended due to the fury among the supporters of the candidates.

A broken ballot box is pictured at Suritola polling station. Photo: Monirul Alam


Source: A scene is pictured in this photo at Suritola polling station in Old Dhaka. Photo: Monirul Alam (Source: Prothom Alo)[12]

Picture: A scene is pictured in this photo at Suritola polling station in Old Dhaka. Photo: Monirul Alam (Source: Prothom Alo)[12]


A scene is pictured in this photo at Suritola polling station in Old Dhaka. Photo: (Source: Prothom Alo)[12]

A scene is pictured in this photo at Suritola polling station in Old Dhaka. Photo: Monirul Alam (Source: Prothom Alo)[12]


A scene is pictured in this photo at Suritola polling station in Old Dhaka. Photo:

A scene is pictured in this photo at Suritola polling station in Old Dhaka. Photo:


Picture: Suritola polling station vandalised. Photo: Monirul Alam (Source: Prothom Alo)[12]

Picture: Members of the law enforcingin Old Dhaka. Photo: Monirul Alam (Source: Prothom Alo)[12]


Suritola polling station vandalised. Photo: Monirul Alam (Source: Prothom

Members of the law enforcing agencies are seen at the Suritola polling station in Old Dhaka. Photo: Monirul Alam (Source: Prothom Alo)[12]


Suritola polling station vandalised. Photo: Monirul Alam (Source: Prothom

agencies are seen at the Suritola polling station


Please, let me cast the votes ; Underage students, polling officers helped ballot stuffing at Curzon Hall centre

The polling station at Curzon Hall of Dhaka University on Tuesday presented vivid show ballot stuffing by the polling agents of ruling Awami Leagues candidates with help from the election officers. The police on duty were also seen helping ballot stuffing. Assistant polling officers and on duty police were seen openly helping the agents of ALs mayoral and councillor candidates in ballot stuffing while the presiding officer Md Hiron Chowdhury looked the other way.

The centres voters were mostly teachers and employees and the members of their families besides the students of DU dormitories, Fazlul Haque Hall, Dr Shaidullah Hall and Amar Ekushey Hall.

In the morning there were moderately long queues of voters. After midday the ballot stuffing began as virtually no voters turned out to cast votes. Up to 9.30 AM 94 votes were cast at the Curzon Hall centre. Out of 22 polling agents at the centre 17 were of AL.

BNPs mayoral candidate Mirza Abbas had two polling agents and both of them left the centre at about 12.30 PM after BNP withdrew.

The scenario at the centre quickly changed after Mirza Abbass agents left and ALs polling agents joined by Chhatra League leaders and activists began stuffing ballots. The festival of ballot stuffing began at booth No 5 where ALs polling agent Md Mehedi Hasan gathered youths for the exercise. Assistant presiding officer Sultana Yasmin gave them a free hand without checking their identities. At one stage Sultana invited New Age correspondent to cast five or six votes.

By 2.30 PM ALs polling agents took control of the booths bearing the numbers 2, 3 and 7 by throwing out the assistant presiding officers. The assistant presiding officers of the other booths directly helped the polling agents of AL in stuffing ballots. ALs polling agents called on duty police when two journalists tried to talk to the voters. The polling agents complained to the police that the journalists were creating problems by asking questions to the voters.

Many individuals were seen casting votes several times by hiding their fingers marked with ink and asking each other , How many votes did you cast?

Right from 8 AM when voting started, the polling officers showed no interest to mark voters fingers with ink.


After 3.30 PM, AL polling agent Saifur Rahman told New Age Please be seated and dont roam around. We did not disturb you. As things are going end please dont disturb us.

They also took selfie shots using cell phones while stuffing ballots.

When asked, presiding officer Md Hiron Chowdhury told New Age that he would make no comments on what was going on.

After voting ended at 4 PM, the count showed 1,120 votes had been cast with all the AL candidates Sayeed Khokon, Farid Uddin Ahmed Ratan and Syeda Roksana Islam winning.

The remarkable enthusiasm of first-time voters showed during the city corporation elections on Tuesday was marred by the even bigger presence of fake voters.

Hundreds of young students were found posing as voters at polling centres in the Dhaka University areas in the city corporation elections on Tuesday.

Picture: Fake vote rigging fest at Curzon Hall centre, Dhaka University (Source: Naya Diganta)

There were two scenarios in the polling centres.

The real first-time voters were easily identifiable, busy taking selfies after casting their votes. They seemed to be happy just being able to vote; but many went to polling centres only to find that their votes had already been cast.


One such voter, seeking anonymity, said finding that someone else had cast their votes would definitely discourage young voters from exercising their right to vote in future.

The other group, who also posed as first-time voters, however, seemed more keen to keep their heads down and get as many ballot papers inside the ballot box as possible.

A young woman was caught red-handed while trying to cast the vote of an elderly woman at the Curzon Hall centre. She had also claimed to be a first-time voter.

She kept pleading with the polling officials, saying: Please, let me cast the votes. Later, pushed by some polling agents, the polling officials let her cast votes illegally.

Like her, many young men and women some of whom seemed underaged queued up at the polling centre asking to be allowed to cast votes on behalf of the absent voters, mostly those who had previously been resident students of Dhaka University but had graduated and no longer lived in the area.

Polling officers failed to prevent such illicit voting despite having adequate security.

When questioned about the vote rigging, the polling officers said they were helpless.

They said they had been threatened to silence by Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders of Shahidullah Hall and Fazlul Haque Hall.

We cannot take any action if no incident of such vote rigging is reported, Hiran Chowdhury, presiding officer of Curzon Hall polling centre, told the Dhaka Tribune.

When asked why they were so eager to cast other peoples votes, the fake voters said they were following their seniors instruction. But when asked about who these seniors were, they were reluctant to answer.

One of the fake voters, asking not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune: Not all of us are here by choice. We are resident students. We were forced to come here by the senior Chhatra League leaders in our hall. Not coming here would most likely result in us losing our place in the dormitory.

And then he hurried towards a polling booth. [13]

Polling officer of Bangla Bazar Government Girls School polling centre dismisses polling agents; stamps ballots himself

Polling officers of Banglabazar Government Girls School voting centre, who were stationed to facilitate the voting process, were seen to indiscriminately stamp ballot papers at random themselves. This incident was observed at 11:15 am on Tuesday morning.


Picture: Polling officer at BanglabazarProgress Bangladesh) [14]

The pictures of the incident clearly show a large number of fake votes, with stamps on the Hilsa fish symbol of the Awami League ruling party supported candidate. A ballot box in the distance shows ballots stuffed illegally with the newly stamped ballot papers.

Picture: Fake votes, Stamps on hilsa symbol of AL candidate Khokon. Progress Bangladesh) [14]


: Polling officer at Banglabazar Girls High School stamping ballots

The pictures of the incident clearly show a large number of fake votes, with stamps on the Hilsa fish symbol of the Awami League ruling party supported candidate. A ballot

distance shows ballots stuffed illegally with the newly stamped ballot papers.

Fake votes, Stamps on hilsa symbol of AL candidate Khokon.


Girls High School stamping ballots (Source:

The pictures of the incident clearly show a large number of fake votes, with stamps on the Hilsa fish symbol of the Awami League ruling party supported candidate. A ballot

distance shows ballots stuffed illegally with the newly stamped ballot papers.

Fake votes, Stamps on hilsa symbol of AL candidate Khokon. (source:


Earlier, BNP polling agents were forced out of the voting centre by the polling officers, who then seized the opportunity to carry out mass vote rigging in favour of the ruling party supported candidate at the polling station.[14]

THE RESULTS

A record number of votes were cancelled in the on April 28 elections to Chittagong,Dhaka North and Dhaka South cities, marred by widespread stuffing by ruling party men and an early boycott by BNP.

Polling officers preferring anonymity said that the number of cancelled votes had increased as ruling party men hurriedly stamped symbols of their party-backed candidates.

According to the polls results, a total of 1, 21, 003 votes were cancelled in the three cities which is more than all previous statistics of the Election Commission, said EC deputy secretary (election management) Shamsul Alam.

The EC said that in Chittagong city 47, 292 votes were cancelled the largest number among the three cities followed by Dhaka South city where 40, 130 votes were cancelled and in Dhaka North city the number was 33, 581.The EC said that 4. 56 per cent of votes were cancelled in the three cities.Shamsul Alam said that a vote is cancelled if a voter stamp more than one symbol, or on the line between two symbols, or they write anything on the ballot paper, or if they tear the ballot paper etc.

One to two per cent votes were cancelled in different previous elections but in the April 28 civic polls, a major political party boycotted the elections just four hours into the polling alleging vote stuffing and widespread rigging, he said.

According to EC statistics, a total of 8, 41, 000 votes were found valid and 33, 581 invalid in Dhaka North city. There are 23, 45, 374 registered voters in DNC.In DNC, Al-backed mayoral candidate Annisul Huq polled 4, 60, 117 votes, BNP-supported Tabith Awal got 3, 25, 080 votes, Sheikh Md Fazle Bari Maswood 18, 050, Mahi B Chowdhury 13, 407, Ganasanghati Andolan Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki 7,370, Kazi Md Shahidullah 2,968, Bahauddin Ahmed 2950, CPB-backed candidate Abdullah Al Kafee got 2,475, Nader Chowdhury 1,412, AYM Quamrul Islam 1,216, Md Zaman Byuiyan 1,140, Moazzem Hossain Khan Majlish 1,095, Md Shamsul Alam Chowdhury 982, Sheikh Shahiduzzaman 923, Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiqui 915 and MdAnissuzzman Khokon 900 votes.

According to EC statistics, a total of 86, 53, 54 votes were found valid and 40, 130 were cancelled in Dhaka South city. There are 18, 70, 753 registered voters in DSC.


In DSC, AL-backed Sayeed Khokon was elected mayor polling 5, 35, 296 votes, BNP-backed candidate Mirza Abbas got 2, 94, 291 votes, Md Abdur Rahman 14, 784, Haji Saifuddin Milon 4, 519, Abu Naser Md Maswood Hossain 2,197, Rezaul Karin Chowdhury 2,137, Shaheen Khan 2,074, Golam Mawla Roni 1,687, Md Shahidul Islam 1,239, Bazlur Rashid Firoze 1,029, Md Zahidur Rahman 988, SM Asaduzzaman Ripon 928, ASM Akram 682, Dilip Bhadra 669, Md Abdul Khaleq 550, Md Shahidullah Choudhury 512, Mashiur Rahman 508, Md Akhtaruzzaman Aiatullah 362, Md Ayub Hossain 354 and Bahrane Sultan Bahar got 312 votes.

According to EC statistics, a total of 8, 21, 371 votes were found valid and 47, 292 invalid in the port city of Chittagong. There are 18, 13, 449 voters in Chittagong city.The AL-backed AZM Nasir Uddin was elected mayor polling 4, 75, 361 votes, BNP-supported candidate M Monjur Alam bagged 3, 04, 837 votes, MA Matin 11, 655, Md Waiz Hossain Bhuiyan 9,668, Md Solaiman Alam Sheith 6,131, Hossain Md Mujibul Haque 4,115, Saifuddin Ahmed Robi 2,661, Md Alauddin Chowdhury 2,159, Arif Mainuddin 1,774, Md Abul Kalam Azad 1,385, Syed Sajjad Joha 845 and Md Shafiul Alam got 680 votes. [15]

REACTIONS: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OUTRAGE

Although the Election Commission obnoxiously termed the elections free and fair [20], the reaction on the national and international scene was united in condemnation of the unfair and farcical nature of the elections held on April 28.

United Nations:

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an enquiry into the accusations of city election fraud and asked all political parties in Bangladesh to express their differences through peaceful means.

He made the appeal in his answer to a written query from bdnews24.com on the post-city polls Bangladesh scenario on Tuesday (local time).

The secretary generals spokesperson Farhan Haq said the UN chief was aware of the BNPs decision to boycott the Dhaka and Chittagong elections, amid allegations of widespread electoral fraud.

He said Ban Ki-moon also appealed to the authorities to investigate all allegations and urged the opposition to use the democratic institutions to express its concerns.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all political leaders to find a peaceful resolution to the current situation, Haq said. [16]


United States and United Kingdom:

Expressing disappointment over yesterdays city corporation polls in Dhaka and Chittagong, the US and the UK have called for a swift, impartial and transparent investigation into the allegations of election irregularities.

We are disappointed by widespread, first-hand, and credible reports of vote-rigging, intimidation and violence that have occurred at polling stations today [yesterday], and the BNPs decision to boycott the city corporation polls, said a statement of the US embassy in Dhaka.

The statement also said, It is important that irregularities be investigated transparently and impartially, and we call on all parties involved to work within the law and avoid violence at all costs.

We condemn in the strongest terms any use of violence for political objectives, it added.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat in a tweet has expressed disappointment to hear so many first-hand reports of intimidation and violence and their effect on todays [yesterdays] city polls in Bangladesh.

Picture: Tweet of Ambassador Bernicat expressing disappointment over widespread rigging and irregularities during city elections (Source: Progress Bangladesh)

Winning at any cost is no victory at all, she tweeted again.

Meanwhile, in a post-election statement, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Gibson expressed his disappointment that the BNP felt it had to withdraw its endorsed candidates from the city corporation elections partway through voting yesterday.


He hoped that the decision would not result in violence or disruption in Dhaka and Chittagong over the next few days. All parties must ensure that their response to todays [yesterdays] events remains within the law, he said.

It will be important that all allegations of irregularity are investigated swiftly and impartially.

The responsibility remains with all parties, the Election Commission, and law enforcement agencies, to ensure that elections can take place in an ordered atmosphere to allow all voters the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights, he said in the statement.

Both the envoys visited polling centres in the capital yesterday. [17]

Election Working Group

Incidents of massive violation of electoral rules, including ballot stuffing, intimidation, booth capture and clashes, undermined the integrity of the city corporation polls, the Election Working Group said yesterday.

The situation at 90% of the polling centres was dangerous, Kamrul Hasan Manju, an EWG steering committee member, said at a press conference.

The organisation reported a number of such incidents after observing the election process in the capital and Chittagong on Tuesday and disclosed their findings before the media at the National Press Club.

Kamrul said 26 EWG observers were not allowed to enter the polling centres, some observers were ousted, while 138 were barred from seeing the vote counting. Two of their observers were beaten in the Dhaka south area while performing their duties.

The EWG had deployed 619 observers in the two cities. Against their application for 1,414 ID cards, the Election Commission issued them 828.

It says the transparency of the process was damaged by significant hurdles the EWG had to face in receiving the accreditation and deploying observers.

Kamrul said forceful ballot stuffing, violent incidents, whimsical announcements ofclosing down polling centres, forcing agents out of the centres and threatening them with arrest, and weak law and order emerged during the polling hours.

Only one or two polling stations were transparent and could complete the voting process, he added.

TIB slams EC


The Bangladesh chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International has condemned the widespread vote rigging, violence and obstruction towards balloting at different polling stations during the city polls.

The corruption watchdog blamed the EC and the law enforcement agencies for their failure to hold credible and peaceful elections.

Moreover, it observed that the opposition parties have created a new risk in restoring a healthy atmosphere in the countrys political landscape by controversially boycotting the city elections halfway through the polls.

In a statement on Wednesday, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said as massive irregularities occurred in the city polls under political shelter flexing muscle, acceptability of the elections has became questionable.

We are concerned since the EC, as a constitutional body, has failed to play its neutral and independent role in holding the elections. The EC itself has fallen into an embarrassing situation by not taking effective steps despite creditable information of vote rigging.

The EC has not only failed to play its due role but also tainted its image by showing political bias, he added.

Iftekhar also urged all the political parties to demonstrate tolerance and exercise democratic practices to maintain peace and discipline in public life.

AHRC for competent institutions

Terming the city elections fake, human rights defenders associated with the Asian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday said: Rigging and ballot stuffing by ruling party cadres, polling officers, and law-enforcement agents reigned all across the two cities.

The Hong Kong-based group said widespread violence by rival groups of the ruling political camps prevented voters from approaching the booths and casting their votes.

By mid-day, the police and polling officers had asked voters of several jurisdictions to leave the polling centres, informing them their votes had already been cast. Many candidates were themselves not allowed to vote.

In a statement, the AHRC also questioned the role of the EC since it had failed to take any action upon complaints lodged by the contestants.


They also condemned the attacks on journalists. Despite challenges, the media has succeeded in exposing electoral manipulations in the newspapers and private television channels, the statement said.

FEMA statement:

Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (FEMA) also made similar observations to the above, saying that the absence of agents of opposition mayoral and councillor candidates at polling stations was very noticeable.

The election observer group said in a press release that voter turnout was very poor in the morning and increased as time passed, but the overall turnout till midday was far below the expected level. It said supporters of certain mayoral and councillor candidates were quite active outside most of the polling centres.

The FEMA observed that the Election Commissions arrangements involved some shortcomings in terms of logistics and infrastructure but law enforcement agencies carried out their duties satisfactorily. It also said agents of certain mayoral candidates were present in high numbers outside polling stations.

For more detailed coverage, please view the following Youtube video links

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmVAHM03L1I&list=PLvbbv5RUPQK6rn7gRMZRV-5ytGclOS1wr

1) Three women hired to give dozens of votes for the ruling party candidate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIn0Pnje00g

2) A 11 year old boy was forced to give 33 votes for Awami league supported party! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5YlyU9P8fM

3) A brave women protesting against vote rigging by Awami league activists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0u_iTj52qw

4) Chhatraleague rigging votes after shutting down the doors for the general people https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFl2x9_fSAw

5) Exclusive footage: Vote rigging by the ruling party polling agents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWvv347hBM8

6) Angry general voters burning down the ballot box after Chhatraleague filled the box with fake votes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q0VP7wOpVo


7) Journalists showing hundreds of votes were rigged by the ruling party activists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTX74VL6Zf0

8) Awami league women activists giving fake votes keeping general voters waiting outside https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPH0ZFseGr0

9) Vote rigging by awami league polling officer in Bangla Bazar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukyyvlO_foc

10) Witnesses describing how vote was rigged by Chatraleague activists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB2cJxhiku0

11) Mobile Footage of Vote rigging by the ruling party activists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOIWQgPmi9M

12) Ruling Awami league party rigging votes with a festive mood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caM6Sx3EjuE

13) Vote rigging in Chittagong Agrabad women college by the ruling party polling agents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw6lFhVcLdI

14) Vote rigging by Chatraleague at a massive scale in Dhaka College center https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caM6Sx3EjuE

15) Polling officers helplessly watching ruling awami party thugs casting fraud votes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuQtStHW6f0

16) Awami League men threaten voters not to cast votes for bus (BNP candidate) symbol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmVAHM03L1I

17) Return to editingVote rigging by ruling awami party at Kamalapur https://youtu.be/0GtfyPcJJOY

18) Police stopping photojournalists to enter polling center https://youtu.be/2prDoNfOjts

19) Exclusive Footage: Awami League leader dictates law enforcer during city polls https://youtu.be/WtwRYE4ll_g

20) Dhaka University Chatra League casting dozens of fraud votes https://youtu.be/t8-_MR9-M84

21) Presiding Officer surrounded by angry voters protesting against allowing vote rigging to happen http://youtu.be/oPeuJ884YVI

22) Peaceful vote robbing by Ruling Awami party polling agent http://youtu.be/bYj0pgTjlTM


References:

1. Bdnews24, 28.04.2015, Voting for three city corporation elections kick off, http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2015/04/28/voting-for-three-city-corporation-elections-kick-off

2. Financial Express, 28.04.14, Gulshan polling centre stormed, http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/28/90638

3. Bdnews24, 28.04.2015, Supporters of Awami League-backed candidate storm Gulshan centre, stuff ballot boxes, http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2015/04/28/supporters-of-awami-league-backed-candidate-storm-gulshan-centre-stuff-ballot-boxes

4. New Age, 28.04.2015, PM stamps ballot at Dhaka City College, many agents do not show up, http://newagebd.net/115343/pm-stamps-ballot-at-dhaka-city-college-many-agents-do-not-show-up/

5. Daily Star, 28.04.2015, Dhaka and Chittagong city polls: Scenes of rigging,

http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/scenes-rigging-79664

6. BD Chronicle, 28.04.2015, BCL is on spree of vote rigging at Dhaka College, http://www.bdchronicle.com/detail/news/32/17494

7. Progress Bangladesh, 28.04.2015, Journalists Barred From Observing Polling; Attacked By AL Men In Many Places, http://progressbangladesh.com/journalists-barred-from-observing-polling-attacked-by-al-men-in-many-places/

8. Progress Bangladesh, 28.04.15, Polling centres occupied, ballot papers seized and burnt in presence of police, http://progressbangladesh.com/polling-centres-occupied-ballot-papers-seized-and-burnt-in-presence-of-police/

9. Financial Express, 29.05.2015, BNP boycotts 'farcical' city polls,http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/29/90746

10. Prothom Alo, 28.04.15, Voterless centres after BNP boycotts vote (Bangla), http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/515041/

11. Daily Star, 28.04.15, Clash suspends voting at Kabi Nazrul College, http://www.thedailystar.net/city/voting-suspended-3-centres-suritola-79560

12. Prothom Alo, 28.04.15, Vandalism at Suritola polling station, vote casting suspended, http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/64959/Vandalism-at-Suritola-polling-station


13. Progress Bangladesh, 28.04.2015, Please, let me cast the votes ; Underage students, polling officers helped ballot stuffing at Curzon Hall centre,http://progressbangladesh.com/please-let-me-cast-the-votes-underage-students-polling-officers-helped-ballot-stuffing-at-curzon-hall-centre/

14. Progress Bangladesh, 28.04.2015,Polling officer dismisses polling agents; stamps ballots himself, http://progressbangladesh.com/polling-officer-dismisses-polling-agents-stamps-ballots-himself/

15. New Age, 01.04.2015, Record number of votes cancelled in three cities, http://newagebd.net/116138/record-number-of-votes-cancelled-in-three-cities/

16. BDnews24, 29.04.2015, UN chief Ban Ki-moon calls for probe into allegations of Bangladesh city election fraud, http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2015/04/29/un-chief-ban-ki-moon-calls-for-probe-into-allegations-of-bangladesh-city-election-fraud

17. Progress Bangladesh, 29.04.2015, US, UK statements voice disappointment at widespread rigging, intimidation in city polls, http://progressbangladesh.com/us-uk-statements-voice-disappointment-at-widespread-rigging-intimidation-in-city-polls/

18. Dhaka Tribune, 30.04.2015, EWG: 90% polling centres were dangerous, http://www.dhakatribune.com/politics/2015/apr/30/egw-90-polling-centres-were-dangerous

19. Progress Bangladesh, 29.04.2015, Election Observers: Voter turnout very poor, http://progressbangladesh.com/election-observers-voter-turnout-very-poor/

20. Prothom Alo, 28.04.2015, CEC terms elections free, fair, http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/65029/CEC-terms-elections-free-fair

Elections 2015- A Detailed Report

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