At least 19 candidates, including 17 BNP backed, boycotted yesterday’s upazila polls alleging massive rigging and capture of the polling centers by the supporters of ruling party backed candidates and also for driving out their polling agents.
Two rebel candidates of Awami League also boycotted the polls bringing the total to 19.
The upazilas where they boycotted elections are Laxmipur Sadar and Ramganj, Chuadanga Sadar and Alamdanga, Bamna and Amtali in Barguna district, Madarganj in Jamalpur, Chandina in Comilla, Tala in Satkhira, Kalapara in Patukhali, Gapargoan in Mymensingh, and Kasba in Brahmanbaria districts.
Five chairman aspirants in Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali and Chuadanga Sadar and Alamdanga upazila boycotted polls alleging vote rigging, capture of poling booths and attacks on their agents by ruling party men at different polling centres. BNP-backed chairman candidate Mostafizur Rahman, independent candidate Aktaruzzaman Khoka Mia and Maulana Habibur Rahman of Islami Andalon boycotted the polls at around 10:10am at a joint press conference at Kolapara Press Club.
They alleged that the supporters of the Awami League candidate drove away their agents from different polling centres in the upazila, reports said.
Mostafizur alleged that the supporters of AL-backed candidate Motaleb Talukdar physically assaulted Kuakata Municipality unit President of BNP Aziz Musulli at Musulliabad Primary School polling centre.
Pro-BNP candidates Md. Khalil Azam, Lutfur Nahar Rina and Md. Ariful Islam at Kasba Upazila in Brahmanbaria district also boycotted the polls alleging irregularities and capture of polling centres by ruling party men.
They announced their decision to boycott the polls at a media briefing. They have also demanded fresh polls.
