Ruling Awami League men allegedly resorted to vote rigging, ballot box stuffing and creating panic among the voters and rivals in four of the five upazila parishads that went to polls yesterday. The BNP-backed candidates boycotted elections in three upazilas, alleging vote rigging, attacks and threats to their men and lax law enforcement. Elections for all posts of Mehendiganj upazila in Barisal a
nd Atpara in Netrakona, by-polls for chairman posts in Phulgazi of Feni and vice-chairman posts in Digholia of Khulna and Ranisankail of Thakurgaon were held yesterday. In Phulgazi, AL-backed candidate Abdul Alim won with 47,266 votes, while BNP candidate Mahatab Uddin Chowdhury Minar bagged 4,289. Voter turnout was very low as panic gripped the voters following explosion of bombs on Saturday night, reports our correspondent. During a visit to Bandua Govt Primary School around 8:40am, it was seen that about 100 ballot papers were put in the vote boxes although no voter was seen around. Nurul Karim, an assistant presiding officer the polling station, said around 36 ballot papers were snatched. He, however, could not identify the perpetrators. Advertisement Abdur Rahman, who was standing outside the polling centre, said some ruling party men on Saturday night asked voters not to go to polling centres. "Ignoring the threat, I have come to cast my vote. But after coming here, I have learned that my vote has already been cast," he added. Fazlul Haque Chowdhury, chief coordinator of Minar, announced to boycott the vote at a press conference around noon, alleging vote rigging and attacks on their men. Returning Officer Mohammed Enamul Haque, also the additional deputy commissioner of Feni, claimed that he had not received any complaint of vote rigging. The post fell vacant after upazila chairman Ekramul Haque had been shot and burnt to death in his car on May 20. Minar, convener of Feni district unit of pro-BNP Tanti Dal, is an accused in the murder case and is behind bars. In Mehendiganj, advocate Monsur Ahmed of the AL had a sweeping victory, with 1,09,771 votes. His nearest contender Maj (retd) Md Nasir Uddin of Islami Andolon Bangladesh got 6,867 votes while BNP-backed candidate Rafiqul Islam Labu managed 5,767. Most of the polling centres witnessed a low turnout. But a large number of ruling party men were seen in and around the polling centres, reports our correspondent. Labu along with two other chairman aspirants announced to boycott the vote around 11:00am, citing vote rigging by the supporters of the AL-backed candidate. Locals said ruling party men had entered several polling stations and stuffed ballot boxes before the voting started at 8:00am. Besides, AL men went to the houses of BNP leaders and activists on Saturday night and intimidated them not to go to the polling stations, alleged BNP men and locals. In Netrakona's Atpara, AL's Khairul Islam won the poll with 35,739 votes while his rival Rafiqul Islam of the BNP got 18,637 votes. Large-scale vote rigging and ballot box stuffing allegedly by the ruling party men marked the election. Visiting different polling stations -- including Koilong, Jugirnagua, Sukari, Najirganj and Teleghati -- our correspondent found that the supporters of AL-backed candidate Khairul Islam snatched ballot papers and stamped on those. Election officials and law enforcers allegedly remained silent during these unlawful activities. In Digholia, Shamsunnahar with AL ticket won with 39,802 votes while her rival BNP's Shikha Begum got 4,193. Shikha announced to boycott the election around noon, citing vote rigging and threatening BNP men by supporters of AL candidate Shamsunnahar as the contributing factors. Locals said ruling party men had forcibly entered several polling stations and stuffed ballot boxes. However, election to Ranisankail of Thakurgaon was held peacefully and nothing untoward was reported. AL-favoured Mahfuza Begum came out victorious there with 28,988 votes. Her nearest Munira Begum of BNP bagged 26,986 votes.
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