UZ polls end amid boycott by 22 chairman aspirants

Voting in 73 Upazila (UZ) Parishads in 34 districts came to a close at 4:00pm on Monday amid reports of various irregularities and election boycott by a number of chairman and vice chairman candidates, particularly by that of BNP loyalists. The polling was held from 8am to 4pm without any break, wrapping up the five-phase local government polls. The fifth round of balloting, however, experienced less violence unlike the previous two phases, but Monday’s polls were allegedly marred by vote rigging, capturing polling stations and casting fake votes in many places. At least 22 chairman candidates, mostly BNP-backed ones, boycotted the elections in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district, Madarganj of Jamaplur, Ghatail of Tangail, Ashtogram of Kishoreganj, Araihazar of Narayaganj, Alamdanga and Chuadanga Sadar upazila, and Chandina of Comilla raising allegations of capturing polling stations and casting fake votes. Besides, five people were injured in police firing in Ghatail of Tangail when police opened fire on demonstrators on Tangail highway after 10 candidates, including four chairman contenders boycotted the polls brining allegations of capture of almost all the polling centres and casting fake votes, according to UNB.