4th phase UZ polls: Voting at all centres in Titas upazila suspended

Voting at all of the 46 centres in Cumilla’s Titas upazila were suspended over the allegations of vote rigging and irregularities as the fourth phase elections to 107 upazilas ended this afternoon.

The voting began at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm without any break.

Much like the past three phases of the polls, the number of voters in most polling centres was significantly low.

Our correspondents from Cumilla, Pirojpur, Bagerhat and Savar reported low voter turnout in most polling centres.

In Cumilla, voting to 46 polling centers in Titas upazila were suspended following reports of irregularities during the elections there, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rashed Akhter told our correspondent.

Earlier in the morning, voting was suspended in three centres -- Daskandi Government Primary School, Vitikandi Government Primary School and Shahapur Government Primary School.

All voting materials and polling officials have been withdrawn from these three polling centres, said Rasheda Akter.

Meanwhile, Assistant Sub-inspector of Titas Police Station Masud was removed from all election duties after an allegation that he unlawfully entered Shahapur polling centre.

In Dhamrai, there are 2393 voters at Kalampur Amatonnesa Balika High School polling centre but only 50 votes were cast so far, said Aminul Islam, presiding officer of the centre, around 11:00am.

Meanwhile, voter turnout is less than 7 per cent at Bashna Government Primary School polling centre till 12:00pm, Presiding officer Azharul Islam said adding that there are 3,134 voters in the centre.

Besides, a presiding officer at Kandapotol Government Primary School polling centre was detained due to his negligence of duty this afternoon, Executive Magistrate Pranab Kumar Saha told our Savar correspondent.

In Cumilla, voting to three polling centers of Titas upazila have been suspended on allegation of occupying polling centers, sealing ballots at night and clashes between supporters of different candidates.

The centres are Daskandi Government Primary School, Vitikandi Government Primary School and Shahapur Government Primary School, reports our Cumilla correspondent quoting Rasheda Akter, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Titas Upazila.

All voting materials and polling officials have been withdrawn from these three polling centres, said Rasheda Akter.

Meanwhile, Assistant Sub-inspector of Titas Police Station Masud has been removed from all election duties after an allegation that he unlawfully entered Shahapur polling centre.

In Brahmanbaria, there is also low voter turnout in most of the centres in Nabinagar upazila, our correspondent reported. While visiting Konaur Government Primary School polling centre, the correspondent saw no voters cast their votes at a booth there till 12:00pm.

Election held amid tight security

The EC has deployed 111 platoons of additional Border Guard Bangladesh members in 48 upazilas ahead of today's election and kept 48 platoons as reserve force.

According to the EC officials, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in six upazilas -- Patuakhali Sadar, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Begherhat Sadar, Mymensingh Sadar, Munshiganj Sadar and Feni Sadar -- during the fourth phase of the election.

The first three phases of the polls were held on March 10, March 18 and March 24 respectively, in 78, 116 and 117 upazilas.

In this year's upazila polls, the political parties nominated aspirants for the first time.

SM Asaduzzaman, EC joint secretary and director (public relations), yesterday said they had taken preparation for a free and fair election.

Over 2.55 crore people are expected to cast their votes in 9,740 centres today.