Polling suspended in 2 Comilla centres

Polling has been halted at two centres in Comilla’s Borurha Upazila due to snatching of ballot papers.

Voting was also disrupted in one centre hours after polling started on Sunday.

Police detained Mazharul Islam, a rebel candidate backed by the Awami League, for trying to create trouble.

Presiding Officer Fakhruddin Ahmed said voting was halted at the Purbo Nolua Government primary School centre after the incident.

Locals alleged that supporters of local Awami League leader and chairman candidate Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiyan had stamped the ballot papers earlier on Saturday night.

Voting was also suspended at the Bagmara Government Primary School centre for a similar reason, said Presiding Officer Gobinda Chandra Chakraborty.

He said 1,200 ballot papers had been snatched away from his centre.

Polling was suspended for sometime at the Kodba Tolagram Kamini High School, Presiding Officer Mohiuddin Mahmud Shahjahan said, and resumed after a while.

Borurha Police Station OC AKM Kauser Chowdhury said they had detained Mazharul Islam around 10.45am from outside the Khusbas High School polling station.

District Returning Officer Rashedul Islam said they had heard the allegation about the snatching of ballot papers.