Strong BNP show in 1st phase UZ polls

The BNP put up a strong show in 97 Upazilas that went to polls on Wednesday in the first phase of the staggered elections within a month and a half of the parliamentary elections that it had boycotted. Candidates loyal to the BNP-led 19-party alliance have won the race for chairman in 44 of the 95-upazila (UZ). Aspirants supported by the ruling Awami League have been unofficially elected in 33 sub-districts. BNP’s partner Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed 12 Upazila chairman elections. Some of their female Vice-Chairman candidates also won. The Awami League’s one-time ally Jatiya Party won in one Upazila. Two independent candidates won in Rangpur’s Taraganj and Gopalganj’s Moksudpur Upazilas. The United People’s Democratic Front’s (UPDF) also won in two Upazilas including Khagrhachharhi Sadar. Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) (MN Larma Group) won in one. An independent Chairman candidate won in Rangpur’s Taraganj Upazila. Results were not announced Bakerganj Upazila in Barisal district and Ullahparha in Sirajganj district as balloting was halted at two centres each in those places. More than one Awami League candidates ran the election in most of the Upazilas, which have led to the defeat of the party candidates, say local leaders. Meanwhile, BNP’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi complained to the press of irregularities after Wednesday’s balloting was over. The party’s local units called general strike at eight Upazilas of six districts for Thursday, alleging vote rigging. Criticising the Election Commission, party’s Acting Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said a fair election was not possible under this Election Commission. Reacting to this criticism, the Awami League said the BNP’s all allegations are baseless. The EC has expressed its satisfaction over the near violence-free election. It said they were on the whole happy though the voter turnout was lower than it was in the last Upazila polls. About the BNP’s allegation, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said steps would be taken if any specific allegation was made with the returning officer. The voting has been postponed at 10 centres out of around 6500 in 97 Upazilas due to allegations of many irregularities including snatching and burning of ballot boxes. A total of 1274 candidates – a Chairman, a Vice Chairman and a female Vice Chairman for each Upazila – were in the fray. Of them, a Vice Chairman candidate was elected unopposed at Sirajganj’s Kazipur, a female Vice Chairman candidate at Shariatpur’s Jajira and a woman Vice Chairman candidate at Bogra’s Dhupchanchia. According to the EC schedule, the second phase will see voting at 117 Upazila Parishads on Feb 27; at 83 on Mar 15; 92 on Mar 23, according to bdnews24.com.