EC bins TIB report on polls

The Election Commi-ssion has waved off the Transparency International, Bangladesh report in which the organization alleged irregularities in the 11th parliamentary elections.

Asked for comments on the report on Tuesday, Election Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam questioned the making of the report by TIB, the local branch of the Berlin-based organization promoting public opinion against corruption, reports bdnews24.

"We didn't ask them to make any report on the election. We have nothing to do with it (TIB report)," he said. "How was it made? How was the evidence collected? We had no involvement in it and no-one sought the EC's permission for making the report," the election commissioner said.

The TIB has not been listed as an election observer, he noted, declining to comment on the organization's observations and recommendations. "They should have taken our and the government's views. But they did not involve us in any way or informed officially. So we are not evaluating the report. We not taking cognizance of the report," he said."We will speak if they officially inform us about it," Rafiqul added.

In the report published earlier in the day, the TIB labeled the Dec 30 general election as 'controversial', saying the participating political parties did not have equal opportunities and the vote was marred by irregularities.Such an election does not augur well for democracy, it added.

The BNP and its Jatiya Oikya Front alliance have rejected the results of the polls and demanded fresh elections alleging widespread rigging, irregularities and intimidation of their supporters and candidates.The EC rejected the demand while the ruling Awami League dismissed the allegations of rigging and intimidation.