Some 15 chairman candidates, mostly BNP-backed ones, boycotted the upazila elections in Khustia, Cox’s Bazar, Feni, Barisal, Bhola, Chandpur, Noakhali, Munshiganj and Jessore districts on Thursday on various allegations.
In Noakhali, the Election Commission suspended polling in Sadar upazila following violence, said Election Commission acting secretary Sirajul Islam at a press briefing at the EC secretariat.Besides, BNP-backed chairman candidate of Kabirhat upazila Md Ilias and Humayun Kabir of Companyganj upazila boycotted the polls on various allegations, including the ‘capture of polling’ stations and ‘vote rigging’.
Local BNP called a daylong hartal in Companyganj for Sunday protesting the ‘vote rigging and capturing of polling centers by ruing party men’.
In Barisal Sadar upazila, three candidates –- BNP-supported chairman, vice-chairman and women vice-chairman — boycotted the election alleging that the supporters of ruling party candidates obstructed their supporters from casting votes, forced their agents out of some polling centres and also cast fake votes.
BNP-inspired chairman candidate Enayet Hossain Bachchu, vice-chairman candidate Anwar Hossain Labu and women vice-chairman candidate Ferdousi Begum announced their election boycott at a joint press briefing around 10 am.
Barisal city unit BNP called a daylong hartal in Sadar upazila for Sunday on various allegations, including obstructing BNP supporters from casting votes, and casting fake votes.
BNP central organising secretary Mujibur Rahman Sarwar announced the shutdown at a press briefing held at his city home around 11am.
In Bhola, BNP-supported chairman candidate Alamgir Hossain Maltia of Charfasson upazila and another chairman candidate Anwar Hossain Bhuiyan of Borhanuddin upazila boycotted the elections as supporters of ruling party candidates reportedly prevented their supporters from casting votes and occupied some polling centres forcing their agents out of booths.
Local unit of BNP called a dawn-to dusk hartal for Saturday in Charfasson upazila as supporters of ruling party candidates occupied some polling centres.
In Chandpur, BNP-supported chairman candidate Sharif Mohammad Yunus and two other chairman candidates Haji Mozammel and MA Hannan (BNP rebels) at a separate press briefing announced their election boycott alleging vote fraud in Faridganj upazila.
At Birampur centre in the upazila, 3-4 crude bombs exploded during the polls in the morning.
In Munshiganj, BNP candidates boycotted polls in Sadar upazila on allegation of vote rigging.
Local BNP called a daylong hartal in the Sadar upazila for Saturday protesting various irregularities during the voting.
In Jessore, BNP-inspired candidate of Sharsha upazila Khairuzzaman Madhu boycotted the polls on allegation of fake vote casting and vote rigging.
BNP also called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the upazila for Saturday.
In Feni, two 19-party candidates boycotted the polls in Sadar and Parshuram upazilas and called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district for Sunday.
In Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria upazila, BNP-supported chairman candidate Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury pulled himself off the election raising allegation of vote rigging and called a daylong hartal in the upazila for Sunday.
In Kushtia, BNP and Jamaat candidates announced the boycott of the Mirpur upazila elections alleging vote rigging and called a half-day hartal for Sunday.
In Jamalpur, Melandah upazila chairman candidate Advocate Ismat Pasa called a daylong hartal in the upazila for Friday terming the election farcical as the ruling party supporters manipulated it.
Polling in 115 upazilas of 52 districts was held Thursday. – UNB
