A male voter casts his vote at Seujgari Primary School polling centre in Bogra Monday. The final phase elections begin in 73 upazilas across the country at 8:00am. Photo: STAR

Ten chairman aspirants boycotted today’s upazila polls in Tangail, Patuakhali, Jamalpur, Narayanganj and Chuadanga alleging vote rigging by ruling Awami League men at different polling centres.

Meanwhile, eight vice-chairman candidates in Tangail, Jamalpur and Narayanganj also boycotted the elections, report our district correspondents.

In Ghatail upazila, the boycotting candidates alleged that ruling party activists stuffed ballot boxes last night and took control over 25 polling centres out of 99 today.

In protest, supporters of BNP-backed chairmen and vice-chairmen candidates staged demonstrations in front of the office of upazila nirbahi officer, blocking the Tangail-Mymensingh highway.

At least five people were injured when police fired rubber bullets and charged batons to disperse the agitators, witnesses said.

Three of them were rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

In Narayanganj, BNP-backed chairman candidate Gazi MA Masud announced to boycott the Araihazar upazila polls following a clash between AL and BNP supporters at Athuria Government Primary School polling centre.

In protest, BNP called a daylong shutdown in the upazila for Tuesday.

TANGAIL

Three chairmen candidates -- one backed by BNP, one BNP rebel and another supported by Jatiya Party -- declared boycotting the polls protesting vote rigging by the ruling AL activists in Ghatail upazila of the district.

Supporters of the BNP-backed chairmen, vice-chairmen candidates staged demonstration in front of the office of UNO and blocked Tangail-Mymensingh highway in protest of the allegation.

They demanded re-election to the upazila polls to the UNO.

PATUAKHALI

Three chairmen aspirants in Kolapara upazila of Patuakhali boycotted today’s polls alleging vote rigging and attacks on their agents by ruling party men at different polling centres.

BNP-backed chairman candidate Mostafizur Rahman, independent candidate Aktaruzzaman Kokka Mia and Moulana Habibur Rahman of Islami Andalon declared to boycott the polls at around 10:10am at a joint press conference at Kolapara Press Club.

They alleged that the supporters of the ruling Awami League candidate drove their agents out of different polling centres in the upazila, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.

Mostafizur alleged that the supporters of AL-blessed candidate Motaleb Talukdar physically assaulted Kuakata Municipality unit president of BNP Aziz Musulli at 10:00am at Musulliabad Primary School polling centre.

NARAYANGANJ

A clash erupted at Aturia Government School polling centre in Rupganj upazila between the supporters of AL and BNP-backed candidates over occupying polling centres.

After the clash, BNP-backed chairman candidate has boycotted the upazila elections in protest of taking control over the centre.

At least five people were injured in the incident, Harun-or-Rashid, a police official of Rupganj Police Station said.

CHUADANGA

BNP-backed chairman candidates boycotted elections in Sadar and Alamdanga upazilas alleging vote rigging by the ruling party supporters.