The European Union (EU) has asked Bangladesh to investigate thoroughly the irregularities and acts of violence in the just-concluded Dhaka North and South and Chittagong City Corporations polls.
The EU came out with the urge in a statement issued in Brussels on Wednesday. The EU spokesperson also termed the reports of vote rigging, intimidation and violence `credible`.
The EU regretted that vote-rigging, intimidation and violence had marred the elections in Dhaka and Chittagong on 28 April, despite the calls from the international community for peaceful, inclusive and transparent elections.
Contrary to some criticism about an early boycott of elections by the opposition, the EU statement rather said the BNP made “a late decision” to boycott these elections.
“Voters were not given an opportunity to express fully their democratic choice,” the EU observed and demanded that irregularities and acts of violence “must now be thoroughly investigated”.
After Tuesday’s controversial ballot, the United Nations, the United States and the United Kingdom all called for investigation into allegations of vote rigging and acts of violence.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, however, after the voting was ended at 4.00pm on Tuesday, claimed that the polls in three city corporations were held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
