Special Correspondent
"Voting ended in a largely festive and peaceful environment except for some sporadic incidents in some areas, but I could say that hundreds of thousands of voters in the city corporation areas went to the polling centres to elect their Mayor and Councillors without any fear," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told journalists after the day-long local government polls in three city areas.
The CEC visited two centers and talked to the voters. "I saw huge voters' presence in the voting line and the atmosphere was festive and peaceful, he claimed, (in 10:30am he visited Dhanmondi Kakoli High School and Residential School and College).
"I did not find anything wrong but still I said if anyone has any allegation please lodge complaint to us we will look into the issue," CEC assured.
When asked about the cause of withdrawal of the BNP-backed mayoral candidates from city corporations elections both in Dhaka and Chittagong, the CEC replied, "I don't get any letter from any candidate, as it is a local government election, I did not talked to any political party, I asked the law-enforcing agencies to respond immediately and take action if they find anything wrong."