EC not to blame for low voter turnout, says CEC

The Election Commission is not responsible for the low voter turnout in elections to Dhaka city corporations, says Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.

“The EC does not bring voters to centres, it only creates a voting environment," he said, adding:"So it is the voters and political parties that are responsible for the low turnout.”

Huda was speaking to reporters after casting his vote at IES School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara.

As well as rains, the boycott by BNP, the major rival of the ruling Awami League, has put a damper on this city corporation election, resulting in a drastically low turnout in the early hours of the voting.

Voting began at 8:00 am to elect the mayor of Dhaka North and councillors of 49 wards in both areas of the Dhaka North and South city corporations.

It will continue until 4:00 pm without any break.

A total of five candidates are running in the fray to succeed former DNCC mayor Anisul Huq, after whose death on November 30, 2017 the mayoral post in the North fell vacant.

Of them, Atiqul, also a former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), is leading the race.

Around 4.0 million voters are expected to cast their vote in the bifurcated Dhaka city corporation elections.