Business as usual

Irregularities, electoral code violation and vote boycotting by independent candidates marked the municipal polls at Natore and Chattogram's Banshkhali yesterday.

Yesterday saw elections to five municipalities in four districts as well as the by-polls to the parliamentary seat Tangail-7.

In Natore municipality, lawmaker of Natore-2 constituency Shafiqul Islam Shimul visited different polling stations, violating electoral code.   

"I'm visiting the stations to observe the polls," he said when asked.

Quizzed over whether this is in violation to the electoral code, he said, "Can I not see the voting?"

In Baraharishpur Sher-e-Bangla High School polling centre, our correspondent saw that ruling AL men were roaming around the polling station around noon, even though many of them weren't voters of the area.

AL's Natore district unit joint secretary Syed Mortuza Ali Bablu was one of them. Asked about his presence, the AL leader admitted that he went to the electoral area despite being an outsider. "I've come here because central leaders have given me responsibilities of this station," Bablu said.

Contacted, Natore's SP Liton Kumar Saha said, "We have requested the lawmaker to comply with the electoral code. If he (lawmaker) does not comply with it, we have nothing to do."

Returning Officer Md Aslam said, "We don't have the jurisdiction to take action against a lawmaker."

Asked about other irregularities, the RO said he would look into the allegations.

In Banskhali, an independent mayoral candidate boycotted the election, brining allegations of irregularities by ruling party men. Talking to journalists, independent candidate Kamrul Islam Hossein alleged that his agents were ousted from centres by supporters of AL candidate Tofail Bin Hossain.

Toafil denied the allegations and told journalists that the independent candidate only brought the allegations after sensing defeat.

The RO could not contacted for comments.

Meanwhile, the by-election to Tangail-7 constituency saw very low turnout as people did not show much interest in voting. The parliamentary seat was vacant after its AL lawmaker Ekabbar Hossain died on November 16.

A total of five candidates contested the election.