Violence mars BAIRA polls

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FE Report
Violence marred the biennial (2010-12) election of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Saturday, ending in partial withdrawal of one panel out of the race.
Sammilito Gonotantrik Front submitted a written complaint to the BAIRA office following a violent clash at the election centre in the morning. They complained over election process and withdrew their participation.
"They (the opposite panel) attacked our agents deployed at the voting centre and physically assaulted two of them," a member of Sammilito Gonotantrik Front told the FE.
"In response to the offensive and violent behaviour, we have officially lodged complaint to the election committee by mid-day," he said adding "But none took any action and the election continued."
As per schedule, the biennial election started at 9.00 am and continued until 4.00pm. As many as 61 candidates took part in the competition for 27 posts with 834 voting members, BAIRA source confirmed.
Current president of the recruiters association Golam Mustafa is leading Sammilito Gonotantrik Front panel while BAIRA Life Insurance's (BLI) former senior vice president Muhammad Abul Bashar leading the Shommilito Shamonnoy Front panel.