AL candidates, rebels dominate 3rd phase municipality polls

Candidates of the ruling Awami League have been unofficially elected from majority of the municipalities that went to polls on Saturday in the third phase, according to partial results.

Unofficial results started coming in hours after voting ended amid reports of clashes, allegations of vote rigging, polling centre capture, and boycotts.

Voting in 62 municipalities began at 8am and ended at 4pm without any break. 

According to results received until 11pm, Awami League candidates won in Naogaon's Dhamoirhat, Bhola's Borhanuddin and Daulatkhan, Barguna, Comilla's Chauddagram and Barura, Chuadanga's Darshana, Moulvibazar Sadar, Sherpur's Nokla and Nalitabari, Jhenaidah's Harinakundu, Pirojpur's Swarupkathi, Feni Sadar, Mymensingh's Bhaluka, Barisal's Gournadi, Chandpur's Hajiganj, Shariatpur's Naria, and Bogra's Shibganj and Nandigram.

On the other hand, a number of renegade candidates from the Awami League also managed to win. Unofficial results showed renegade candidates victorious in Shariatpur's Zajira and Bhedorganj, Bogra's Dhunot, Sylhet's Golapganj and Zakiganj, Mymensingh's Gouripur and Ishwarganj, and Jhenaidah's Kotchandpur.

Also Read - Voting in third phase municipality elections ends amid sporadic violence, boycotts

Candidates backed by the BNP also won in a few municipalities. According to unofficial results, BNP candidates won in Bogra's Gabtoli and Kahalu.

Polls violence, election boycott

In Lakshmipur, three people were shot and 20 others were injured in Ramganj municipality polls violence.

The incident took place over the domination of a polling centre, and balloting was suspended at the centre for half an hour.

In Natore, BNP candidate Taizul Islam boycotted the election in Singra municipality alleging irregularities including ballot stuffing.

"Awami League-backed agents publicly stuffed ballots, and the BNP ones were driven out from several polling centres," Taizul said.

In Satkhira, BNP-backed candidate Sheikh Sharifuzzaman and independent candidate Nargis Sultana boycotted the election in Kolaroa municipality polls, alleging vote rigging.

They also said their agents were not allowed to enter any of the polling centres.

In Naogaon, at least three SA TV journalists came under attack as they were covering alleged incidents of ballot stuffing, vote rigging, and polling centre domination by ruling party men.

In Bogra, BNP mayoral candidate in Shibganj municipality Motiar Rahman Motin boycotted the election, alleging that the ruling party men occupied the polling centres and physically assaulted his agents.

Third phase municipality polls

The 62 municipalities that went to polls on Saturday include Ulipur in Kurigram, Jaldhaka in Nilphamari, Gobindaganj in Gaibandha, Hakimpur in Dinajpur, Rohanpur in Chapainawabganj, Mundumala and Keshorhat in Rajshahi, Shibganj, Nandigram, Dhunot, Gabtoli and Kahalu in Bogra, Sadar and Dhamoirhat in Naogaon, Singra in Natore, and Pabna Sadar.

The municipalities also include Darshana in Chuadanga, Kotchandpur and Harinakundu in Jhenaidah, Manirampur in Jessore, Paikgacha in Khulna, Morrelganj in Bagerhat, Kalaroa in Satkhira, Sadar and Patharghata in Barguna, Borhanuddin and Daulatkhan in Bhola, Nalchity in Jhalokathi, Swarupkathi in Pirojpur, Gournadi and Mehendiganj in Barisal.

The other municipalities include Naria, Bhedarganj and Zajira in Shariatpur, Tungipara in Gopalganj, Kalia and Sadar in Narail, Pangsha in Rajbari, Munshiganj Sadar, Madhupur, Sadar, Bhuapur, Sakhipur and Mirzapur in Tangail, Iswarganj, Bhaluka, Gouripur and Nakla and Nalitabari in Sherpur, Sharishabari in Jamalpur, Durgapur in Netrakona, and Katiadi in Kishoreganj.

The other municipalities are Golapganj and Jakiganj in Sylhet, Moulvibazar Sadar, Hajiganj in Chandpur, Barura and Chauddagram in Comilla, Feni Sadar, Hatia and Chowmuhani in Noakhali, and Ramganj in Lakshmipur.

The first and second phases of the municipal elections to 24 municipalities and 60 municipalities were held on December 28 and January 16.

In the fourth phase, elections will be held in 56 municipalities on February 14 and polls in 31 municipalities will be held in the fifth phase on February 28.