Voting countermanded in 32 centres

Voting was suspended at 32 centres in 11 Upazilas of nine districts due to poll malpractices and violence during the fourth phase of Upazila Parishad elections on Sunday.

Of them, eight polling centres are in Munshiganj’s Gazaria, eight in Patuakhali Sadar and five in Dumki Upazilas, three in Noakhali’s Begumganj, two in Comilla’s Borurha and one centre each in Dhaka’s Dhamrai, Chittagong’s Ranguia and Satkania, Sylhet’s Kanaighat, Chuadanga’s Jibonnagar and Cox’s Bazar’s Kutubdia.

Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak in the evening told reporters that balloting at these centres was halted due to violence, clashes, obstruction in casting vote and snatching and burning of ballots.

Balloting took place at 91 Upazilas of 43 districts in the fourth round of the staggered local government body polls.

Despite the Election Commission’s warning after a violence-marked third phase, reports of clashes, capturing of polling centres and snatching of ballots poured in since Sunday morning.

Four people were also killed at Munshiganj’s Gazaria, Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura, Jhalakathi’s Rajapur and Comilla’s Borurha.

Three chairman candidates at Barisal’s Agailjharha Upazila and a BNP-backed aspirant at Jhalakathi Sadar boycotted voting. The BNP Upazila unit has also called a half-day general strike at Agailjharha for Monday demanding re-election.