Voting in 73 upazila parishads across 34 districts concluded at 4:00pm on Monday amid reports of various irregularities and election boycott by a number of chairman and vice chairman candidates, particularly by that of BNP loyalists.
The fifth phase upazila elections, however, experienced less violence unlike the previous two phases, but Monday’s polls were allegedly marred by vote rigging, capturing polling stations and casting fake votes in many places.
At least 17 chairman candidates, mostly BNP-backed ones, boycotted the elections in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali, Madarganj of Jamaplur, Ghatail of Tangail, Ashtogram of Kishoreganj, Araihazar of Narayaganj, Chuadanga sadar and Alamdanga, and Chandina of Comilla raising allegations of capturing polling stations and casting fake votes.
Besides, five people were injured in police firing in Ghatail of Tangail when police opened fire on demonstrators on Tangail highway after 10 candidates, including four chairman contenders boycotted the polls brining allegations of capture of almost all the polling centres and casting fake votes.
The four chairman candidates are AKM Rezaul Karim (BNP), Abdur Rashid Miah (BNP rebel), Abdul Halim (Jatiya Party) and Ansar Ali (Islami Andolan).
In Kalapara, three chairman candidates, including BNP-backed Mostafizur Rahman, at a joint press conference at 11am announced the election boycott alleging that the supporters of the ruling party candidates obstructed their supporters from casting votes, forced their agents out of some polling centres and also cast fake votes.
In Madarganj, BNP-backed chairman candidate Faidul Islam Lanzu boycotted the polls on various allegations, including ‘capture of 19 polling stations’ and forcing their agents out of some polling centres by beating.
In Chuadanga, two chairman contestants, including BNP-supported one pulled out from the polls race in Sadar upazila, while three chairman candidates in Alamdanga upazila raising allegation of capturing the centres and casting fake votes. Six vice chairman candidates also boycotted the polls in the two upazilas.
Besides, BNP-backed chairman candidate Kazi Manjurul Quader boycotted polls in Ashtogram upazila, while BNP-supported chairman contender Gazi Masud along with three vice chairman pulled out from the electoral race in Araihazar upazila, and BNP-blessed chairman candidate Mafiz Uddin Bhuiyan and LDP-supported chairman contestant Abu Taher in Chandina upazila.
A total of 1,056 candidates contested in the elections for 219 posts, including 362 for chairman posts and 418 for vice chairman positions.