2 BNP favourites boycott polls in Chuadanga

Two pro-BNP candidates in Chuadanga pulled out of the Upazila (UZ) Parishad elections on Monday, alleging takeover of polling centres by supporters of pro-Awami League candidates. Mujibul Haq Malik Saju, contesting from Chuadanga Sadar upazila and backed by the BNP, announced his decision three hours into the voting. He claimed supporters of an Awami League-backed candidate had taken over 85 polling centres in the Upazila and were stamping the ballots at will. Meanwhile, Shahidul Tilu, another candidate at Alamdanga Upazila, alleged Awami League toughs had forced their way into 52 out of 103 voting centres in the UZ. Returning Officer Anjuman Ara Begum, however, refuted the claims, saying polling was progressing “peacefully” in Chuadanga Sadar and Alamdanga Upazila polling centres. Balloting is on in 73 UZs across Bangladesh in the fifth phase of the local government polls. Voting started at 8am on Monday and will continue until 4pm, according to bdnews24.com.