Bangladesh EC Secretary views elections as 'bright example'

Dhaka [Bangladesh], Dec 31 (ANI/Prothom Alo): Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed on Monday said that the 11th Parliamentary elections will remain as a "bright example" in national life.
"This is a huge event in the history of Bangladesh as the voting to the 11th Parliamentary election took place in a very free, fair and peaceful environment under a political government," he told newsmen at the EC secretariat in the capital, according to BSS.
He said that many local and foreign observers have expressed their satisfaction over the voting held on Sunday.
Helal also stated that the ruling Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance gained a massive victory in this election to run the government for a straight three terms.
He also informed the media that so far, results to 298 constituencies out of 300 have been announced since the election to three centres at Brahmanbaria-2 has been withheld. "There'll be re-voting in these three centres."
In Gaibandha-3 constituency, polling was postponed as ATM Fazle Rabbi of BNP-led 20-party alliance candidate died of old-age complications.
He said that the commission was making preparations over the last one year to hold the election in a successful way and in this process they prepared voters list, completed delimitation of 300 constituencies, appointed returning officers and assistant returning officers after announcement of the polls schedule, and held meetings with political parties.
Helal Uddin said that about 1.5 million polling officials and members of law enforcement agencies were engaged to help hold the election in a free and fair manner with the participation of some 39 political parties and 1,846 candidates.
This election was a huge event in national life except some sporadic incidents which made the EC halt polling at 22 centres, out of the overall number of around 40,000 centres, Helal said while quoting Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.
The EC secretary also talked about the usage of EVMs for the elections and said that the machines were used in six constituencies, where there was curiosity, interest and anxiety over the use of these machines.
"But, we've been able to successfully use the EVMs . we'll use EVMs in the upcoming elections. We will consider on how to get the results from these EVMs much earlier in the future," he added.
Helal Uddin further said that the commission is yet to calculate the overall percentage of votes cast during the elections, adding that their next big task will be to publish the gazette notification of the election results.
"Thus we will hand it over to the Speaker of Parliament for taking next steps and proceedings," he said.
The EC secretary congratulated the Awami League for gaining the overwhelming victory while simultaneously thanking the other political parties for their cooperation with the EC for the success of the elections. (ANI/Prothom Alo)