Stray incidents like clashes, attacks and breach of electoral code of conduct and arrests were reported from various Upazilas of seven districts in Bangladesh during Wednesday’s first phase of polling.
Magura: At least 13 people were injured in two separate incidents in Magura district on Wednesday, reports our correspondent.
In one of the incidents, at least 10 persons were injured in a clash near Amalsar polling centre in Sreepur Upazila.
Despite so many people being injured, police however claimed it was a minor scuffle.Sreepur Police Station’s OC Akhteruzzaman said law enforcers brought the situation under control immediately.
Two people were also fined by a mobile court for seeking votes on behalf of the BNP-backed candidate Nazimuddin Ahmed at Sadar Upazila of the district.
An assistant presiding officer (APO) was also manhandled by an Awami League’s rebel Upazila Vice Chairman candidate in the same Upazila.
Candidate Shamim along with seven to eight persons attacked and assaulted the APO Ramzan Ali, said Zinnat Ali, Presiding Officer at the Bhabanhati Primary School voting centre.
Chittagong: Mithanala Ramdayal High School polling centre in Mirersarai was closed for half an hour after 50-60 men barged into the centre and tried to cast proxy votes, says our Chittagong bureau.
Presiding Officer Badal Kumar Pal said the miscreants entered the polling centre and snatched away ballot papers from polling officials. They fled when additional police arrived.
The officer could not ascertain who these men were, but eyewitnesses claimed they were supporters of Awami League-backed candidate Sheikh Ataur Rahman.
Mirersarai Police Station Sub-Inspector Saleh Ahmed said the miscreants had pulled down the fence around the polling centre. He said polling at the centre was suspended for 15-20 minutes.
Jhenaidah: Voting was suspended at a centre after supporters of the Awami League-backed candidate for the post of Shailkupa Upazila chairman tried to snatch away ballots from polling officials.
Shailakupa Police Station OC Moniruzzaman Mia said a fight broke out at the Mathurapur Government Primary School centre when supporters of Awami League-backed candidate Afroza Nasrin Lipi tried to take control of the centre.
“At one point about 200 people barged into the centre. They snatched ballots from two booths. Police fired six rounds of blank shots to disperse them,” he said.
“Later the presiding officer suspended the polling and took away the polling materials to the UNO’s office,” he added.
Sirajganj: Voting at Nalsandha polling centre of Ullahparha Upazila was suspended following a clash between Awami League and BNP-Jamaat supporters, our correspondent reports.
BNP-Jamaat supporters set fire to ballot papers at the centre, gutting at least 1,400 ballot papers, Presiding Officer Faridul Islam said.
Security forces detained a local Awami League leader for carrying a pistol and three bullets near the voting centre at Mohonpur KMM Institute in the same Upazila.
The detainee Kamrul Islam Orange is Mohonpur Union Parisad Awami League President, said Tajul Huda, Ullahparha Police Station’s OC.
Shariatpur: Both the BNP-backed and Jamaat-backed candidates boycotted the polls in Goshairhaat Upazila, alleging that their polling agents had been forced out of the polling centres.
Gopalganj: Kashiani Upazila chairman candidate Moktar Hossain alleged that attempts were made to cast fake votes. He said the attempts were prevented by polling officials after his complaint.
Assistant Returning Officer Abdul Latif confirmed the allegations and said strict measures had been taken.
Bhola: BNP-backed Lalmohan Upazil chairman candidate Shafiqul Islam Babul and a woman candidate for the post of vice-chairperson Parvin Akhter boycotted the polls, alleging that their polling agents had been forced out of polling centres.
BNP’s rebel chairman candidate Akhteruzzaman Titu also boycotted the polls, raising the same allegations. – bdnews24.com
