BNP, BSD, Islami Andolan quit Barishal polls

Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has pulled out of the Barishal City Corporation election, raising complaitns of widespread ballot stuffing and manipulation by the ruling Awami League.

The BNP's Mujibur Rahman Sarwar announced the decision of pulling out from the race, at a press conference at Barishal Press Club at 12:15pm on Monday, around four hours after the voting began.

Following Sarwar, Islami Andolan Bangladesh mayor candidate Obaidur Rahman and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal's Manisha Chakrabarty boycotted the election complaining vote rigging.

In the press conference, Sarwar said, "No sooner had the voting begun than the ballot boxes were filled with stamped ballot papers. Polling agents of BNP and other political parties were stopped from entering the polling stations."

Terming the administration's role disgraceful, he said, "I was elected mayor once and member of parliament for four times. But, I've never experienced such an unprecedented election like this."

He alleged, "Fair election is impossible in Barishal as the prime minister's relative is contesting here."

Manisha Chakrabarty and Obaidur Rahman brought out separate processions in the southern city, protesting against vote rigging in several polling centres.

Manisha told newsman that she was assaulted while she protested against vote stuffing for 'boat' [election symbol of ruling Awami League] at Sadar Girls School in broad daylight.

Despite allegations of massive rigging, manipulation and intimidation, the BNP did not boycott elections in Khulna and Gazipur, where the ruling party candidates eventually came out winners.

However, in 2015, the opposition party had withdran their candidates from the electoral race in Dhaka noth and south and Chittagong city corporations, raising allegations of massive rigging and election engineering.

*This report has been rewritten in English by Imam Hossain.