Balloting in the third phase elections to 62 municipalities began on early Saturday and ended amid reports of clashes, vote-rigging, polling centre domination, and boycotts.
Voting started at 8am and ended at 4pm on the day.
The 62 municipalities include Ulipur in Kurigram district, Jaldhaka in Nilphamari, Gobindaganj in Gaibandha, Hakimpur in Dinajpur, Rohanpur in Chapainawabganj, Mundumala and Keshorhat in Rajshahi, Shibganj, Nandigram, Dhanut, Gabtoli and Kahalu in Bogura, Naogaon and Dhamoirhat in Naogaon, Singra in Natore and Pabna.
The municipalities also include Darshana in Chuadanga, Kotchadpur and Harinakundu in Jhenaidah, Manirampur in Jashore, Paikgacha in Khulna, Morelganj in Bagerhat, Kalaroa in Satkhira, Barguna and Patharghata in Barguna, Borhanuddin and Daulatkhan in Bhola Nalchity in Jhalokathi, Swarupkathi in Pirojpur, Gournadi and Mehendiganj in Barishal. The other municipalities include Naria, Bhedarganj and Jajira in Shariatpur, Tungipara in Gopalganj, Kalia and Narail in Narail, Pangsha in Rajbari, Munshiganj, Madhupur, Tangail, Bhuapur, Sakhipur and Mirzapur in Tangail, Iswarganj, Bhaluka, Gouripur and Nakla and Nalitabari in Sherpur, Sarishabari in Jamalpur, Durgapur in Netrakona and Katiadi in Kishoreganj.
The other municipalities are Golapganj and Jakiganj in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Hajiganj in Chandpur, Barua, Chauddagram and Feni, Hatia and Chowmuhani in Noakhali and Ramganj in Lakshmipur.
The deadline for the submission of nomination papers was December 31, while the date for scrutiny of nomination papers was January 3 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature was January 10. The first and second phases of the municipal elections to 24 municipalities and 60 municipalities were held on December 28 and January 16.
Three people were shot and 20 others were injured in Lakshmipur’s Ramganj municipality polls violence.
The incident took place over the domination of a polling centre, and balloting was suspended at the centre for half an hour.
BNP candidate Taizul Islam boycotted the election in Natore’s Singra municipality alleging irregularities including ballot stuffing.
“Awami League-backed agents publicly stuffed ballots, and the BNP ones were driven out from several polling centres.”
BNP-backed candidate Sheikh Sharifuzzaman and independent candidate Nargis Sultana boycotted the election in Satkhira’s Kolaroa municipality polls, alleging vote-rigging.
They also said their agents were not allowed to enter any of the polling centres. At least three SA TV journalists came under attack as they were covering alleged incidents of ballot stuffing, vote-rigging, and polling centre domination by ruling party men in Naogaon. BNP’s mayoral candidate in Bogura’s Shibganj municipality Motiar Rahman Motin boycotted the election, alleging that the ruling party men occupied the polling centres and physically assaulted his agents.
