Awami League-backed chairman candidates gained victory in 167 union parishads while contestants from its arch rival BNP’s camp won the race in 38 in the 4th phase of the lowest tier local government polls held on Saturday. According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, 18 AL candidates were elected unofficially in Manikganj, 15 in Pabna, 14 in Brahmanbaria, 11 in Sherpur and Kushtia each, nine in Kurigram and Nababganj upazila each, eight in Kishoreganj, Thakurgaon, and Munshiganj each, seven in Jessore and Sylhet each, six in Tangail and Moulvibazar each, five in Natore and Chandpur each, three in Panchagarh, two in Chapainawabganj and one in Bogra. On the other hand, nine BNP candidates were elected unofficially in Sylhet, seven in Kurigram and Chapainawabganj each, three in Nawabganj, two in Munshiganj, Tangail and Thakurgaon each, one in Moulvibazar, Panchagarh, Jessore, Thakurgaon, Kushtia, Chandpur and Bogra each. Besides, 52 other chairman candidates won the elections in Bogra, Kishoreganj, Chandpur, Sherpur, Manikganj, Nababganj, Kushtia, Munshiganj, Thakurgaon, Brahmanbaria, Tangail, Panchagarh, Moulvibazar and Sylhet. Election to 700 union parishads in 87 upazilas of the country’s 46 districts was held on the day amid various irregularities and sporadic violence that left six people dead. The balloting in this phase of the UP elections began at 8am and continued till 4pm without any break. The Election Commission suspended balloting in 51 polling stations due to violence and various irregularities. — Dhaka, May 8 (UNB)
