Municipalities Polls: AL-backed runners win 18 out of 24

The ruling Awami League-nominated candidates achieved victory in 18 municipalities out of 24 while their arch-rival BNP-nominated candidates won in two municipalities and independent candidates in three.

BNP candidates won in Rajshahi's Putia and Habiganj's Shayesthaganj municipalities whereas independent candidates won in Dinajpur's Phulbari, Patuakhali's Kuakata and Thakurgaon's Pirganj municipalities.

Result of another municipality -- Khulna's Chalna -- was withheld as BNP backed candidate died during the polling.

The first phase election of municipalities was held on Monday in 24 municipalities.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir yesterday rejected the election result, saying that no election can ever be fair under this government and the Election Commission.

He was talking to reporters over the elections at his residence at Kalibari of ​​Thakurgaon yesterday.

He alleged that if 10 voters cast their votes pressing button of the EVM, eight will automatically go for boat, the electoral symbol of the Awami League while two will go for paddy sheaves, BNP's electoral symbol.

The machine will work the way the programme will be fixed, he said, adding, "I'm not saying anything ridiculous, that's true."

He said they have only one proposal which is the formation of people's government.

"We want a neutral government during election, we want a neutral election commission. We also want to restore ballot system instead of EVM as our people are yet to understand about EVM," he added.