CHITTAGONG MAYORAL ELECTION RESULTS: AWAMI LEAGUE

UNCLAS DHAKA 002215 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM BG BGD SUBJECT: CHITTAGONG MAYORAL ELECTION RESULTS: AWAMI LEAGUE INCUMBENT CANDIDATE WINS REF: DHAKA 02198 ¶1. (U) In a generally peaceful and orderly election with only scattered reports of irregularities, the current Chittagong mayor, Awami League's ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, won with 350,891 votes while the BNP challenger, Mohammad Nasiruddin received 259,410 votes. ¶2. (SBU) The Chief Election Commission (CEC) MA Sayed said that the elections were fair but both sides noted a number of irregularities. Observers noted that most of the irregularities seem to be coming late in the process and seemed to favor the losing BNP candidate. Media reports stated that the CEC acted rapidly in addressing the irregularities. THOMAS