DHAKA: Counting vote began as Muktijoddha Sangsad polls ended across the country Saturday to elect new committees after nine years.

Polling started at 9am and continued till 4pm, without break.

However, untoward incidents over the polls were reported from some areas, including Muladi of Barisal, Borhanuddin of Bhola, Noria of Shariatpur, Bancharampur of Brahmanbaria and Begumganj of Noakhali.

Sangsad sources said 169,387 enrolled freedom fighters were expected to cast their vote at upazila, divisional and national levels to elect their representatives in the three tiers of the command of freedom fighters.
   
It happens to be the first direct nationwide polls being held by the Muktijoddha Sangsad since its inception after the country’s independence.

The Sangsad earlier had held indirect elections. In the last election held in 2001, the councillors voted to elect the central command council and the committees at the other tiers.
   
The contestants have set three panels, one led by incumbent chairman of the Muktijoddha Sangsad central command council Abdul Ahad Chowdhury and two others led by Helal Morshed Khan and Ismat Kadir Gama.
   
In all 10 candidates are contesting the polls for chairmanship. They are Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, Helal Morshed Khan, Ismat Kadir Gama, Nayeem Jahangir, Abir Ahad, Nasrul Huda, Khalequzzaman, Osman Ali Khandaker, Mohammad Alamgir and Farid Uddin Zakir Khan.
   
A five-member election commission headed by cabinet secretary Abdul Aziz is conducting the election.
   
The Sangsad set up one polling centre in each upazila, one in each division and three polling centres in Dhaka city.
   
The deputy commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers and assistant district magistrates are supervising the elections.
   
A large number of candidates are in the race to get elected as vice-chairmen, secretary general, joint secretaries-general, organising secretary, assistant organising secretary and executive committee members.

BDST: 1600hrs ; June 26, 2010
SMS/MUA