CEC describes mayoral polls as 'test case' for general elections

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug 6 (BSS) - Bangladesh Election Commission today described the mayoral polls as a 'test case' ahead of the planned general elections set for December this year as the voting in the country's first polls under emergency rules, ended with huge turnout of voters.

"I am happy over the turn out of voters . . . this is a test case and we will review the experience we gained through this election for holding a flawless and credible general elections in December," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda told newsmen as the voting ended at 4 pm.

He said, voters or candidates did not make any complain of troubles caused by the state of emergency.

In some polling centers the turn out exceed over 85 percent which is certainly a good news for next general election, he said adding that atmosphere is the main factor to hold a free and fair election.

Talking to reporters at Election Commission (EC) secretariat in the afternoon the CEC said, he is not sure whether the State of Emergency would continue at the time of next general election.

"We always are urging the government to create election atmosphere and ahead of general election we will repeat our call to the government," he said.

Election commissioner Sohul Hussain told newsmen that polling in some centers continued even after formal ending time 4 pm as thousands of voters were queuing in long lines amid strict security to elect mayors and councilors in four major cities and nine district towns.

A total of 20,000 elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and joint forces were called out alongside police as authorities enforced a three-tier security system in the 'non-party' local government polls seen as a test case ahead of the general elections under an election commission roadmap.

The CEC said the "culture of election appeared to have changed this time" and the election atmosphere was better then anytime in the past and "we expect the most competent people to be elected".

Witnesses and election officials said, there was a huge turnout of female voters apparently because of the peaceful atmosphere as the polling started at 8 in the morning and ended at 4 in the afternoon without any break.

Under the Bangladesh constitution, local government polls are non-political or non-party elections but treated as politically crucial as candidates backed by major parties take part in the polls in individual capacities.

Earlier on June 20 the caretaker government relaxed further the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) allowing street marches and rallies in the election areas as the Election Commission (EC) announced schedules for local government polls.

This was the first election under the present interim government, installed following the January 11, 2007 proclamation of the State of Emergency.