DHAKA: At least 13 mayoral candidates, mostly from BNP, have boycotted ongoing municipal election under party banner, on allegation of vote rigging, stuffing ballots and other irregularities.

Banglanews Correspondents from respective areas report:

In Chittagong, BNP candidates in Sandwip and Rangunia municipalities have quitted vote showing protest against alleged capture of vote centers and stuffing the ballots.

Both mayoral aspirants — Ajmat Ullah Bahadur in Sandwip and M Helal Uddin Khan in Rangunia — declared boycott of voting and demanded re-election in free and fair manner.

In Iswardi of Pabna, BNP mayoral candidate Mokhlesur Rahman Bablu has also boycotted the election raising allegation of vote manipulation and vote center capture.

In Akhaura of Brahmanbaria, two mayor candidates of BNP and independent – Momtaj Mia and Syed Moshiur Rahman Babul – declared their boycott of election on allegation of vote rigging.

In Bajitpur of Kishoreganj, Independent candidate Shawkat Akbar quitted the election around 12:00pm.

In Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, Jatiya Party (JP) mayor candidate Akhter Hossian Jewel quitted the polls on allegation of vote ringing.

In Barguna, Sadar municipality Awami League (AL) candidate advocate Kamrul Ahsan Moharaj boycotted vote on allegation of hostile behavior by administration.

Moreover, presiding officer Manjurul Alam has postponed voting at Gagan Memorial High School center following clash of supporters between AL and its rebel candidates.

In Pangsha of Rajbari, BNP mayor candidate Chand Ali Khan quitted the race around 11:00am of Wednesday on allegation of rigging.

In Kuakata of Patuakhali, JP candidate Anwar Hossain Howlader has boycotted vote on allegation of irregularities.

In Shahjadpur of Sirajganj, AL rebel candidate Abdur Rahim in Shahjadpur municipality has boycotted vote on allegation of capturing vote centers.

In Narail, BNP mayoral candidate in Kalia has boycotted voting on allegation of rigging after the early hours of voting.

Wahiduzzaman Milu, the mayoral aspirant, said that he had information about huge rigging of vote, stuffing ballots in different centers.

Supporters of ruling party candidate are giving threats to BNP leaders-activists. Even agents of BNP candidate were barred from entry to vote centers.

‘Despite repeated allegations, the administration is playing silent role. In theses circumstances, fair voting is impossible. So, I have boycotted the vote,’ the BNP candidate said.

In Laxmipur, BNP mayoral candidate ABM Jilani in Raipur has boycotted election in hours after voting.

At 10:15am of Wednesday in a press briefing at his residence, he declared his quit from the first ever municipal election under party banner.

During the time, ABM Jilani said, ‘I am forced to boycott election as Awami League activists and supporters captured polling centers and ousted his agents from there’.
 
Raipur BNP president and election coordinator of BNP advocate Monirul Islam Howlader informed the matter to banglanews.

BDST: 1531 HRS, DEC 30, 2015
RS/RR/SMS