Dhaka: The elections recently held in three city corporations – Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) – were not free, fair and neutral, says a TIB study report.

It reveals the candidates participated in the city elections had a tendency to violate the electoral code of conduct and they overspent violating the election expenditures the Election Commission (EC) allowed.

The EC had failed to play its due role in holding free, fair and credible elections.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) conducted the study titled, ‘DSCC, DNCC and CCC elections 2015: Process Observation’ and released it on Monday.

TIB programme manger Rezaul Karim presented the findings of the study at a press conference held at TIB conference room in the capital.

Former Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda and TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman also spoke on the occasion.

The report reveals that three mayoral candidates of DNCC spent additional Tk 20 lakh to 3.6 crore for the election though the EC allowed a candidate to spend TK 50 lakh. Three mayoral candidates of DSCC spent additional Tk 1.5 crore to 3.5 crore against the limit of Tk 30 lakh.

Besides, three mayoral candidates of CCC spent additional Tk 6.47 crore (maximum) against the designated amount of Tk 30 lakh.

About 58 percent of candidates also violated election rules by providing food and drinks during the election, while 42 percent by conducting campaign after the stipulated time.

The study says although the city election is a local body one, both the ruling Awami League and BNP openly supported candidates, while Awami League forced their 336 party men to pull out.

It shows that BNP did not provide polling agents in many polling centres despite having a peaceful environment and it boycotted polls without any discussion with BNP-backed supporters.

About EC’s role, the study says the Commission has failed to play its due role in holding a free and fair election as it did not take any strong action against the candidates who violated election rules, and did not take effective measures to resist vote rigging.

Speaking at the press conference, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the EC did not play its due role in the elections due to its poor leadership.

About the role of political parties, he said as both Awami League and opposition BNP played questionable role during the city polls, the voters were cheated.