By-polls: Quiet in B'baria, chase and counter-chase in C'nawabganj

By-elections to six constituencies across the country started this morning with a low turnout in Brahmanbaria-2, and a chase and counter-chase between supporters of the Awami League candidate and those of an independent candidate's in Chapainawabganj-3.

The constituencies fell vacant following the resignation of six BNP lawmakers in December last year. Voting is being held from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

In Chapainawabganj-3, a chase and counter-chase took place between supporters of Awami League candidate Abdul Wadud and independent candidate Samiul Haque Liton at Nawabganj Adarsha High School centre.

The incident took place at 8:50am, just after voting started.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

However, no one was injured during the chase and counter-chase, said the centre's Presiding Officer Md Shahiduzzaman.

Voting at the centre started 10 minutes late due to a technical glitch in EVM machine.

In Brahmanbaria-2, voting began amid thin presence of voters.

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Six By-Polls Today: Focus on B’baria as candidate still missing

The constituency consists of Sarail and Ashuganj upazilas with 3,73,319 voters.

While visiting the Sarail Annada Govt High School and Uchaliyapara Govt Primary School polling centres in Sarail upazila of the district around 9:00am, our correspondent found no voters. There were only agents, law enforcement personnel and election officials at the polling stations.

A total of nine votes were cast in eight booths of the Chunta Dakhhin Govt Primary School till 9:00am. Till the same time not a single vote was cast in seven booths of Annada Govt High School Centre.

There are more than 6,000 voters under the two centres.

The candidates of the Brahmanbaria-2 by-election are: former BNP lawmaker and expelled BNP leader Ukil Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, Jatiya Party candidate Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Zaker Party candidate Jahirul Islam Jowel and independent candidate, former BNP leader Abu Asif Ahmed.

No untoward incident was reported till the filing of this report around 9:00am.

On December 10, five MPs from the BNP resigned from parliament as part of their ongoing anti-government movement. Sattar left the party the next day.

Later, the Election Commission set February 1 to hold polls for the vacant seats.

Rab, police, BGB and Ansar members will remain deployed to hold the election peacefully, said Returning Officer and Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Md Shahgir Alam.