Decision on vote recount if court orders: EC Anwarul

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance has alleged rigging in the vote counting of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The alliance formally lodged a complaint with the Election Commission on Sunday, February 15. The Commission has also responded to it.

Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar has said the Commission will decide on vote recounts if ordered by the court. He made this remark while speaking to journalists on Sunday.

The Jamaat-led alliance also alleged that the gazette was published hastily. The EC has responded to this as well. Claiming that the Commission did not rush the gazette publication, Election Commissioner Anwarul said all work has been done within the law. The gazette was published at the appropriate time. The issue of reconsidering the results announced for the 11-party alliance is irrelevant. However, there is no bar for any complainant to seek legal recourse. If the court orders, the EC will decide on vote recounts.

He said the Commission has succeeded in delivering a fair, peaceful and impartial election. Expectations have been exceeded through this election.

Election Commissioner Anwarul also informed that the EC has not yet decided regarding the Sherpur-3 constituency.

Alliance leaders complained to the EC that candidates of the 11-party alliance were defeated through rigging in 32 constituencies. They also applied for a recount of votes in the concerned constituencies. However, the EC informed that this is not possible as the gazette has been published.