Amid vote-rigging claims by Opposition, B'desh EC rules out re-election

With the opposition Jatiya Oikya Front (National Unity Front) crying foul over rigging, fraud and government intimidation in recently-held parliamentary elections, the Bangladesh Election Commission on Monday rejected their claims, ruling out any chance of re-election.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda was quoted by The Daily Star as saying: "There is no scope to hold the national election again."

Playing down allegations of ballot stuffing a day before the elections, Huda said that such things were "completely untrue."

Acknowledging that there were violent incidents across the country on the polling day, the Chief Election Commissioner stated that the electoral body took cognisance of the matter and a probe has been initiated.

Sheikh Hasina's Awami League-led Grand Alliance, which includes 14 parties in total, won 288 seats, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) helmed Jatiya Oikya Front suffered a massive rout by bagging only seven seats in total, according to The Daily Star.

Despite tight security arrangements, violence raged on in various pockets of Bangladesh claiming 18 lives in total and injuring around 200 people. Moreover, nine people were arrested in poll-related violence across the nation.

Polling for the 11th general elections began at early morning on Sunday at around 8 am and continued till 4 pm in the evening.

As the counting process was underway on Sunday and showed Hasina's party leading the way, the Jatiya Oikya Front called the polls a "farce", alleging that it was completely rigged demanding re-election.