MASSIVE ELECTORAL FRAUD

IN BANGLADESH CITY
ELECTIONS 2015 : A
DETAILED REPORT

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.

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

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

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

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 major
problems 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 8:00
am.
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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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]

21

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

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]

22

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

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

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

23

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

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

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

24

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

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 REPORT

REPOR

Meanwhile, voting at two centres in Suritola area in the capital remained suspended an
hour after the city corporation polls began in the morning.
Sowkat Ali, a presiding officer, of the polling centre, told Daily Star reporters that
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 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 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.
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]

26

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

REPOR

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]

27

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

REPOR

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

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

28

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

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.

29

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

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.

30

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

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.

31

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

REPOR

Picture:: Polling officer at Banglabazar Girls High School stamping ballots (Source:
Progress 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. (source:

Progress Bangladesh) [14]

32

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

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, BNPsupported 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 Md
Anissuzzman 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.

33

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

In DSC, AL-backed Sayeed Khokon was elected mayor polling 5, 35, 296 votes, BNPbacked 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, BNPsupported 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 postcity 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]

34

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

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.

35

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

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 of
closing 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

36

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

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.

37

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

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=PLvbbv5RUPQK6rn7gRMZRV5ytGclOS1wr
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWvv347hBM8

ruling

party

polling

agents

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

38

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

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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukyyvlO_foc

officer

10) Witnesses describing how vote was rigged

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB2cJxhiku0
11) Mobile Footage of Vote rigging by
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOIWQgPmi9M
12) Ruling Awami league party rigging
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caM6Sx3EjuE

by

the

votes

in

Bangla

Chatraleague

ruling

with

party

Bazar

activists

activists

festive

mood

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
https://youtu.be/0GtfyPcJJOY

rigging

by

ruling

awami

party

at

Kamalapur

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
http://youtu.be/bYj0pgTjlTM

by

Ruling

Awami

party

polling

agent

39

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

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

centre

stormed,

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-backedcandidate-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-manyagents-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/journalistsbarred-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-occupiedballot-papers-seized-and-burnt-in-presence-of-police/
9. Financial Express, 29.05.2015, BNP boycotts
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/29/90746

'farcical'

city

polls,

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-Suritolapolling-station

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

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-pollingofficers-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-agentsstamps-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-chiefban-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-ukstatements-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-weredangerous
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.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/65029/CEC-terms-elections-free-fair