The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

More than a million security enforcement officials including police and para-military forces were deprived of casting vote for the 9th parliamentary election, Forum Asia, an Asian Forum for Humans Rights and development yesterday said.

Subodh Raj Pyakurel, Chairperson of Forum Asia said that the persons who made substantial contribution to the smooth functioning of the election process were denied of their right to vote.

No facility was provided to the officers and the members of the police and para-military force, to exercise their right to vote he said and added the number of these deprived persons would come to more than a million.

The election observation mission was actively assisted and provided with information from the Forum Asia, Resource Integration Centre (RIC), Ain Salish Kendra, Odhikar and Madaripur Legal Aid Association.

Forum Asia congratulated the people of Bangladesh for their his toric achievement in completing the election to the Bangladesh Parliament on December 29 in a peaceful manner. A new opportunity for a return to the democratic rule is dawn upon Bangladesh, said Subodh Raj.

The zeal and fervour of ordinary citizens, especially of young people towards democratic form of governance was clearly visible on the polling day. On the day of polling the observation team visited nearly 30 polling booths under 8 polling centers representing urban, semi-urban, rural and industrial areas.