Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) on Tuesday said that the recently held Khulna City Corporation (KCC) elections were not completely free and fair.

The NGO that promotes the cause of good governance came up with the observation at a press conference on ‘Khulna City Corporation Election’ held at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), reports the UNB.

Central Coordinator of Shujan, Dilip Kumar Sarkar said the elections held on May 15, apparently took place without any major incidents and violence, have also raised questions about transparency and fairness of the elections.

He alleged that in the KCC election, many voters could not vote, sealed ballot without signature were counted as legitimated votes, and in many polling centres there were no polling agents of opposition political party.

Shujan observed that incidents of centre grabbing, fake voting, creating obstacles in voters casting their votes dampened the free and fair poll environment.

Dilip said, ‘We think that Khulna City Corporation elections are a questionable election, which is not completely free, fair and flawless.

The body urged the Election Commission to conduct an investigation into the KCC poll irregularities.  

The programme was conducted and chaired by M Hafizuddin Khan, the President of the organisation while Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, the General Secretary of the body and its Executive Members Syed Abul Maksud and Dr Tofael Ahmed addressed the programme.