The counting of votes after the second phase elections in 115 upazila parishads of the country’s 52 districts began on Thursday afternoon.
The voting that began at 8am closed at 4pm amid stray incidents of violence which left a Shibir man dead in Sonaimuri upazila of Noakhali district and score others injured in various places.
The voting in Noakhali sadar upazila and 21 polling stations of four other upazilas was postponed due to violence.At a press briefing at 3:30pm at the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat, EC acting secretary Sirajul Islam said, “The commission suspended the election in Noakhali sadar upazila considering the overall situation and postponed 21 polling centres in four other upazilas.”
The 21 polling stations included 11 stations in Barisal Sadar upazila, eight in Faridganj of Chandpur and one at Tarash in Sirajganj and Feni sadar upazila each, he added.
The EC acting secretary said Thursday’s election in the 115 upazilas was largely free and fair without some stray incidents.
Thirteen BNP-backed candidates boycotted their election in Barisal, Bhola, Chandpur, Noakhali, Munshiganj and Jessore districts on Thursday on various allegations.
Incidents of violence and voting irregularities marred the election in Sonaimuri of Noakhali, Fakirhat of Bagerhat district, Shyemnagar upazila of Satkhira, Sreenagar and Sadar upazilas of Munshiganj and Jhenaigati of Sherpur.
In Sonaimuri upazila, Saddam Hossain, an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, was killed in police firing during a clash between law enforcers and BNP activists in the upazila Thursday afternoon.
Police and witnesses said the clash broke out between police and BNP activists at Nandiapara College polling centre when some supporters of BNP-backed chairman candidate Anwarul Haq Kamal tried to capture the centre.
Police opened fire to disperse the BNP men, leaving Saddam dead on the spot.
In Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat, two BGB members were injured in an attack of supporters of Awami League-backed chairman candidate Sardar Neyamat Hossain following arrest of the candidates and his two activists at Satshikha Primary School Centre at about 11:30pm.
The voting at the centre was suspended for today as ballot boxes and papers were torched, said Deputy Commissioner M Shukur Ali.
In Shyemnagar upazila of Satkhira, two Awami League activists were injured in a factional clash at Nakibpur Government Primary School Centre.
In Munshiganj Sadar, Panchasar union BNP general secretary Ayat Ali, 50, and his son Mamun Dewan were stabbed at Malir Pathar Primary School Centre. Local BNP leaders blamed AL activists for the incident.
In Sreenagar upazila of Munshiganj, at least five people were injured when a clash erupted between AL and BNP supporters at Kolapara High School Centre at about 11:15 am and then the voting at the centre was suspended.
The polling at Mandra Charipara Govt Primary School centre at Bhagyakul was halted for 25 minutes from 9am to 9:25am due to chase and counter-chase between AL and BNP supporters.
Besides, the vote casting at Samashpur Primary School Centre remained halted for an hour from 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm AL and BNP supporters had been at combative mood following casting of fake votes.
In Jhenaighati upazila of Sherpur, at least five people were injured in a clash between two groups of AL-backed chairman candidate SMA Waresh Nayeem and BNP-supported candidate Aminul Islam Badsha at Chenguria Ansar Ali High School Centre in Kalibari area around 11:15am.
Locals said two groups locked into a clash when supporters of Nayeem allegedly attempted to stamp ballot papers illegally.
In Shalikha upazila of Magura, four policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector, were suspended as a Chinese-made submachine gun got stolen from them during election duty at Gubra High School polling station early Thursday.
Besides, incidents of clash and irregularities were reported from Bhola and Merpur districts. A total of 1,340 candidates are contesting the election against 345 posts in the 115 upazilas. Of them, 500 are chairman contenders, 506 vice chairman candidates and 334 are vice chairman candidates for the posts set aside for women.
There are 19,592,868 voters – 9,805,150 males and 9,787,718 females, 51,129 booths of 8032 polling stations in the upazilas.
On January 23, the EC announced schedule for the second phase in 117 upazila parishads fixing voting for February 27.
Earlier on February 19 and 24, the first phase election in 98 upazilas was held. In the upazilas, 44 BNP-blessed chairman candidates, 34 Awami League-backed chairman candidates and 12 Jamaat-supported chairman candidates won the polls.
The EC, in five phases, declared election schedules for a total of 464 upazilas out of the country’s 487 upazilas.
The third phase election in 83 upazilas will be held on March 15, while the 4th phase in 92 upazilas on March 23 and the fifth phase in 74 upazilas on March 31. – UNB
