Five OCs face action for alleged favouritism in Upazila elections

Officers-in-charge of five police stations have faced action on Election Commission orders for their alleged favouritism during phase-2 Upazila Parishad elections.

The EC ordered withdrawal of the OC of Kulaura Police Station in Moulvibazar a day before voting on Sunday.

In addition, the OCs of Birganj Police Station in Dinajpur, Shibganj in Bogura, Manda in Naogaon and Alikadam in Bandraban have been relieved of election duties.  

Officials with the rank of superintendent of police have been assigned election duties in these areas, Farhad Ahmmed Khan, an EC joint secretary, told bdnews24.com.

The Kakonhat College polling centre in Rajshahi’s Godagari is bereft of voters at 10:30 am on Sunday.

Voting will continue from 8am to 4pm at 116 Upazilas of 15 districts in the second phase of the staggered polls to the local government body on Monday.

Ballot papers, boxes and other polls materials have been sent to the polling stations, Ashfaqur Rahman, an EC assistant secretary, said.

In this phase, troops have been deployed at the Upazilas in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Tourists have been discouraged to visit the election areas.

The EC termed the phase-1 elections of Mar 10 “largely peaceful” amid boycott by most of the political parties, including the BNP and its allies.

The turnout was 43 percent, the commission said.   

Voting for the next phases are scheduled to take place on Mar 24, Mar 31 and June 18.