Lacklustre strike in Satkhira\\\'s Kaliganj

The day-long hartal (shutdown) called for Sunday by the local unit of Jamaat-e-Islami in Satkhira’s Kaliganj Upazila has failed to evoke a response from local people. The dawn-to-dusk general strike was called to protest irregularities during Saturday’s polls to the upazila (UZ) parishad. The UZs Jamaat-backed chairman candidate Maolana Azizur Rahman pulled out of the polls yesterday alleging rigging. Most businesses and shops were open in Kaliganj since morning. Vehicles were also running. Jamaat activists were not seen on the streets, but Awami League (AL) activists were taking out victory processions. AL’s upazila unit president Sheikh Waheduzzaman bagged the chairman post securing 61,008 votes while his challenger Jamaat-backed candidate Rahman got 56,091 votes. Rahman pulled out of the elections around 5pm just after the counting began, according to bdnews24.com.