The same old story in third-phase municipal polls

Like the two previous phases, sporadic clashes, occupation of polling centres, and boycotts marked the third-phase municipal elections held in 62 municipalities on Saturday. 

Besides, there were allegations of ejecting polling agents of BNP and independent candidates from polling centres and forcing voters to vote for ruling party candidates in most of the municipalities. 

The Election Commission's Senior Secretary Md Alamgir,  however, claimed voting was completely fair and peaceful.

Talking to journalists at the commission on Saturday evening, he said, "According to the information I received from various sources, including the media, the polls were fair and good. Voting was peaceful, except for trouble in only two centres. So, it can be said that the scale of trouble was negligible."

Violence in the first two phases of elections and in Chattogram City Corporation polls left at least six people dead and over 100 injured. 

In the first and second phases, elections were held in 84 municipalities. Of them, Awami League candidates won in 64 municipalities while BNP candidates secured victory in six. Independent candidates of both parties won in 11 municipalities while candidates of other parties triumphed in two.

In Barura municipality of Cumilla, returning officers had to postpone Saturday's voting at Deora Azgaria Dakhil Madrasah centre in ward 8 due to ballot stuffing. 

A journalist was allegedly attacked by local ruling party members at the centre. They broke his mobile phone and snatched his identity card while he was on duty.

The BNP candidate of the centre claimed that supporters of ruling party candidates barred his agents from entering the centre since morning.

He also claimed his agents were ejected from the other centres they had managed to enter.

Each centre was under the control of ruling party men who even prevented voters from going to centres, he alleged. 

In Kalaroa municipality of Satkhira, independent candidate Nargis Sultana boycotted the polls, terming it a farce.

"Agents were ousted from the centre while voters were forced to vote for the ruling party candidate. No ballot for the mayoral post was given to voters," she alleged. 

"This electron is nothing but a farce. The government cannot make such a farce with voters," she added.

In Kalaroa, a BNP candidate's agents were beaten up and ejected from various centres. Police allegedly prevented journalists from entering polling stations.

Sheikh Sharifuzzaman Tuhin, BNP candidate in Kalaroa, claimed, "The agents in every centre were beaten up and ejected. I am a candidate, but I was also beaten up and kicked out of the centre. I did not receive any legal assistance."

He also claimed journalists were not allowed to enter the centres.

"I boycotted the election. It was a farce," he added. 

The BNP mayoral candidate of Chuadanga's Darshana municipality also boycotted the election. 

In Feni, two BNP councillor candidates alleged that local ruling party men had beaten them up while agents were ejected from various centres. There was an explosion near Rampur Mehedi-Sayedee Municipal School centre in ward 14. 

In Kishoreganj's Katiadi municipality, supporters of two councillor candidates clashed, leaving at least 10 people injured.

BNP mayoral candidate of the municipality Tofazzal Hossain boycotted the polls alleging supremacy by the ruling party.

In Bhuapur municipality of Tangail, supporters of a councillor candidate were allegedly attacked by activists of his rival, which left 10 people, including a woman, injured.

Following the violence, voting was suspended at the centre. The situation became normal around an hour later. 

In Ramganj municipality of Lakshmipur, another 10 people were injured in a clash between supporters of two councillor candidates. 

In Bogura's Shibganj municipality, BNP-backed mayoral candidate Matiar Rahman boycotted the polls alleging massive irregularities.

"In the morning, Awami League agents ejected BNP agents from centres, and they were also involved in vote rigging," he claimed.  

The first-phase elections were held on 28 December last year, and the second phase on 16 January.