Clashes, irregularities mark partisan municipal polls

The country's first ever partisan municipality polls ended amid reports of violence, irregularities, suspension of voting at 38 centres of 18 municipalities and boycott of at least 19 candidates.

One person was killed and at least 108 people were injured in clashes at 16 polling centres in 16 municipalities across the country since the beginning of the polls at 8:00am yesterday.

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The Election Commission suspended five police officers for negligence in duty.

However, ruling Awami League claimed that apart from "few irregularities", the voting was free and fair by large.

On the other hand, BNP claimed of widespread rigging by the ruling party men.

Meanwhile, reports of violence came from Tangail, Noakhali, Chandpur, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Narayanganj, Jamalpur, Pabna, Natore, Chittagong, Feni, Moulvibazar, Narsingdi, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Jhalakathi districts.

In Chittagong's Satkania municipality, one Nurul Islam, 48, was killed, being bullet-hit during a clash between the supporters rival councillor candidates, one nominated by Awami League, and the other 'rebel' candidate from the party, near Satkania Government College polling centre. Nurul Islam was on his way to the centre for casting his vote, said family sources.

In Shitakunda municipality under the same district, BNP mayor candidate Abul Mansur was reportedly injured after allegedly attacked by ruling party men while he was on his way to Pontijila High School polling centre in Sitakunda area of the district.

In Noakhali, voting at 10 of the 20 polling centres in Choumuhani municipality in Begunganj upazila were suspended due to snatching of ballot papers, vote rigging and clashes among the supporters of councillor candidates, said District Election Officer Md Monir Hossain, also returning officer of Choumuhani municipality.

Election related clashes left 13 people including three policemen injured in Hatiya and Basurhat municipalities, said police.

In Barguna municipality, 11 people including Awami League candidate Kamrul Ahsan Maharaj were injured as police fired bullets during a clash between the supporters of Kamrul and the party's 'rebel' candidate Md Shahadat Hossain, also the incumbent mayor, at Barguna Government College centre.

Kamul, joint general secretary of Barguna district Awmi League, and general secretary of district bar association, had earlier withdrawn his candidature protesting biased role of the local administration.

In Narayanganj's Sonargaon municipility, at least 10 people were injured at GRU Institute in a clash between the Awami League nominated mayoral candidate and the 'rebel' candidate from the party.

Some crude bombs were blasted during the clash around 3:30am, said Sonargaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Manzur Quader, who was also injured in the clash.

In Tangail, the supporters of Awami League's mayoral candidate and the party's 'rebel' contestant locked in a clash at Ghatandi polling centre around 9:30am, our local correspondent reported from the spot.

Rebel candidate Tarikul Islam Chanchal and his polling agent Aminul Islam Babu were injured. They were taken to Tangail Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Ten others, including Bhuapur upazila parishad Vice Chairman Shahinul Islam, was injured in clashes between two groups of ruling party supporters and later with BNP men at Bhuapur Model School polling centre.

In Chandpur's Matlab municipality, at least seven people were injured in separate clashes between ruling party and BNP activists, our correspondent reports, quoting Returning Officer Farhana Islam.

Police fired 15 blank shots to bring the situation under control at Dakkhin Baishpur Government Primary School polling centre around 9:30am, injuring five.

In Pirojpur's Swarupkathi municipality, three BNP agents were beaten up by ruling Awami League activists early today, our local correspondent reports.

BNP candidate Shafiqul Islam Farid told reporters he does not want to contest the polls anymore considering the present situation, our correspondent reported.

In Patuakhali's Kuakata municipality, at least seven were injured in a clash between supporters of local Awami League and BNP at Panjupara polling centre, our local correspondent reports.

The clash broke out when local AL activists were staffing ballots soon after the voting started, reports our Patuakhali correspondent. Following the clash, voters fled from the polling center.

Azizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kalapara Police Station, confirmed our correspondent about the clash. Returning Officer Nazmul Kabir had assured that the situation was under control.

In Pabna's Sujapur municipality, five people were injured in separate clashes between supporters of ruling party's nominated mayor candidate and its rebel candidate at Sujapur, Bhobanipur and Char Bhobanipur polling centres, reports our local correspondent.

In Natore's Gurudaspur municipality, at least seven BNP supporters were injured after they were beaten allegedly by ruling Awami League supporters at three polling centres in Natore.

The incidents took place at Ghaisapara, Tebaria and Phulbagan polling centres, our Natore correspondent reports.

In Feni's Dagonbhuiyan municipality, BNP's mayor candidate Kazi Saifur Rahman was assaulted allegedly by ruling party activists around 9:00am. Returning Officer Farida Khanom said she heard about the incident, reports our local correspondent.

Later, Saifur withdrew down from the election contest around 1:30pm.

In Moulvibazar Sadar municipality, at least 15 people including policemen were injured in clash between supporters of ruling Awami League and BNP, confirmed Abdul Salek, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.

In Mymensingh's Phulbaria municipality, at least five people were injured in chase and counter chase between supporters of BNP and ruling Awami League, reports our local correspondent.

In Rajshahi's Taherpur municipality, the mayoral candidate nominated by BNP suffered injuries on the head after alleged Jubo League activists attacked him around 1:00pm, reports our staff correspondent from Rajshahi.

Besides, six others were also injured during the incident.

In Jhalakathi's Nalcity municipality, six people including AL's 'rebel' candidate Abu Sayeed Mostafa Kamal, and Md Selim, a local Jubo League leader, were injured in polls related violence yesterday.