60 municipalities go to polls amid violence worries

Elections to 60 municipalities will take place today amid fears of further violence in many places.

Clashes in Jhenidah and Rajshahi have already made people wary of the elections.

The Election Commission (EC) is using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in 29 municipalities and traditional ballot papers in 31.

The EC has been holding the polls in four phases due to the pandemic. Today's will be the second.

The main contest would presumably be between the Awami League and BNP nominees. Other political parties, including the Jatiya Party and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, are also participating in the polls.

EC Senior Secretary Mohammad Alamgir said the EC had taken measures to prevent violence during and after the polls.

"We asked law enforcers to maintain law and order and to take strict actions against miscreants," he told The Daily Star.

He added that social distancing and mask wearing would be strictly maintained.

A total of 216 people are running for mayor at the 60 municipalities in 33 districts.

There are 2,232 councillor candidates and 724 women's reserve seat candidates.

No election for mayor will be held in four municipalities in Sirajganj, Pabna, Pirojpur and Narayanganj.

In Shailkupa municipality of Jhenidah, two ruling Awami League men belonging to rival groups were killed on Wednesday night and early Thursday.

One of them was councillor aspirant Alamgir Khan Babu.

The EC then postponed the polls for ward-8 of Shailkupa municipality, reports our correspondent in Jhenidah.

Returning Officer Rokonuzzaman Khan said additional members of law enforcing agencies have been deployed to prevent further violence.

Our staff correspondent in Rajshahi reports that two supporters of the AL nominee Shahiduzzaman for Arani municipality were severely hacked in an attack on Thursday night.

They were Bazlur Rahman, 45, general secretary of Nurnagar Ward Awami League, and his nephew Arif Hossain, 30.

They were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, said Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bagha Police Station.

Our correspondent in Bogura reports that an independent contestant has expressed fear of attacks at a press conference.

Alamgir Shahi Sumon alleged that lawmaker Sahadara Mannan's son Shakhawat Hossain Sajal had been intimidating voters.

Contacted, the lawmaker said, "My son did not threaten anyone."

In Vedorganj municipality, a campaign rally of Abul Bashar Chokdar was attacked.

Bashar's wife Afrin Mitu and a reporter of an online news portal were among the 10 injured.

Our correspondent in Tangail reports that a campaign office of BNP nominee Mahmudul Haque Shanu was vandalised on Thursday night.

Shanu blamed AL men for the attack and made a complaint to the election commission.

Returning officer Kamrul Islam said steps would be taken after investigation.