Polls halted in 6 Chandpur centres

Voting was suspended in six centres of Chandpur’s Haziganj and Kochua due to rigging and invasion of polling centres during the third phase of the Upazlia election on Saturday.

The centres in Haziganj were – Purbo Rajargaon Government Primary School, Poshchim Rajargaon Government Primary School, Menapara Peer Badshah Miah High School and Nasircourt High School.

Polls were earlier suspended in Kochua centres at Shilasthan Government Primary School and Teguria Government Primary School.

Supporters of Awami League and BNP-backed chairman candidates had a tussle over rigging at Teguria Government Primary School at 9am, said Chandpur SP Md Amir Zafar.

The clash left 15 injured, he said.

Another 20 people were injured at 1pm when they clashed again in the centre, said SP Zafar.

Allegations of rigging also led to clashes in Haziganj’s Poshchim Rajargaon Government Primary School at 11am.

Five persons were injured in the back-to-back clashes between supporters of Awami League and BNP-backed candidates in Menapara Peer Badshah Miah High School. A ballot box was taken away during the melee.

Voting was stopped in the centres due to commotions, but no one was arrested, the SP said.

The centres which witnessed chaos had been closed and law enforcers were alerted to prevent further violence, said Returning Officer Md Nurullah Noori.

Meanwhile, an independent candidate has boycotted the polls due to alleged rigging and attack on polling centres.

“My rivals started to attack voting centres as I was sure to win. They shoved off my agents from various centres and resorted to massive proxy voting,” Alamgir Kabir Patwari told reporters during a press conference at noon.

“Because of all these, I have no other option but to boycott the poll.”