BNP, CPB, IAB boycott Barisal city polls

BNP's Mayoral candidate for Barisal City Corporation Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) candidate Abul Kalam Azad and Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Obaidur Rahman have boycotted the city elections with complaints of widespread vote rigging and manipulation.

Sarwar announced the decision from a press conference at Barisal Press Club around 12noon, four hours after the voting began, our local correspondent reports.

Timeline: Barisal city polls

Earlier, Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate, Obaidur Rahman, boycotted the city elections with complaints of vote rigging and manipulation by the ruling party.

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) candidate Abul Kalam Azad also alleged about the similar incidents of vote manipulation and boycotted the polls around 1:00pm, reports our correspondent. 

Sarwar had been complaining the whole day, alleging that his polling agents were kicked out from at least 50 voting centres during the elections.

He accused the administration and police of playing a partisan role.

Interestingly, Sarwar himself faced dilemma while casting his vote at Sayeda Mazedunnesa Secondary School around 8:40am. Around 50 youths, wearing badges of the Awami League, tried to get a piece of him alleging that the BNP candidate himself was stuffing ballots.

They broke down the gates of the school which the law enforcers were compelled to keep shut for forceful entry, our correspondent reported.

BSD, Jatiya Party urges suspension of polls

Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal candidate Manisha Chakrabarty and Jatiya Party candidate Md Iqbal Hossain have urged the returning officer to suspend the polls bringing vote rigging allegations.

Claiming that her polling agents were driven out of polling centres and illegal ballot stuffing in different centres occurred, Manisha submitted a written application to the returning officer urging suspension of polls in Barisal around 12:30pm.

Md Iqbal also submitted a written complaint demanding the same.