Hartal called in 5 upazilas
Thirteen BNP-backed candidates boycotted the upazila elections in 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 Companiganj upazila boycotted the polls on various allegations, including the ‘capture of polling’ stations and ‘vote rigging’.
Local BNP called a daylong hartal in Companiganj upazila 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 were obstructing their supporters from casting votes, forced their agents out of some polling centers and were also casting 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 Char Fasson upazila and another chairman candidate Anwar Hossain Bhuiyan of Burhanuddin upazila boycotted the elections as supporters of ruling party candidates reportedly prevented their supporters from casting votes and occupied some polling centre forcing their agents out of booths.
Local unit of BNP called a dawn-to dusk hartal for Saturday in Char Fasson upazila as supporters of ruling party candidates occupied some polling centres.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Char Fasson upazila unit BNP president Nazimuddin Alam announced the shutdown.
In Chandpur, BNP-supported chairman candidates Haji Mozammel, Sharif Mohammd Yunus and pro-BNP candidate MA Hannan at a separate press briefing announced their election boycott alleging vote fraud.
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 Sarsha upazila Khairuzzaman Madhu boycotted the polls on allegation of fake vote casting and vote rigging.
BNP called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the upazila for Saturday.
Polling in 115 upazilas of 52 districts was held today (Thursday).
Source: UNB Connect
