Independent candidate boycotts polls

It would have appeared an in-house fight but it turned bitter midday.

Shafiqul Islam, independent candidate for Lakshmipur-1, says he will boycott the re-polling.

Shafiqul, district Awami League’s senior vice-president, decided to withdraw after alleging vote rigging by supporters of the official candidate of the Awami League-led 14 party alliance, MA Awal.

Balloting for the seat was being held in 21 centres on Thursday, with 50,279 voters listed to exercise their franchise.

Polling in 21 of the total 81 centres for Lakshmipur-1 were stopped on Jan 5 due to large scale violence by Opposition activists determined to enforce a boycott.

Polling continued in the remaining 60 centres where a total 54,926 votes were cast on Jan 5.

Twarikat Federation Secretary General and grand alliance nominated candidate MA Awal, with poll-symbol ‘boat’, received 32,057.

Independent candidate Shafiqul Islam got 20,911 votes with his pineapple symbol and Jatiya Party’s Mahmdudur Rahman got 1,958 votes on his plough symbol.

6 held for irregularities

Law enforcers have arrested six people for irregularities during polls from Lakshmipur’s Ramganj.

They were held from polling centres under Lakshmipur-1.

Two people were detained from Naogaon High School centre after they tried to snatch away ballot papers, said Presiding Officer Harunur Rashid, in charge of that centre.

Four others were arrested from various centres while they tried to cast false votes, said Ramganj Police OC Rezaul Karim.

Voter turnout was visibly low in several of the centres.
Polling in almost 400 centres for seven constituencies in five districts was stopped due to arson and snatching of ballot during the 10th national election on Jan 5.