After four hours into voting for the second phase of the Union Parishad polls on Thursday, the Election Commission says that all is well with the poll process.
Published : 31 Mar 2016, 02:57 PM
1 dead in Jessore poll centre firing
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“We are observing everything and monitoring activities of polls officials, media and our own staff,” Election Commissioner Abu Hafiz told bdnews24.com around 12pm.
Voting started at more than 6,000 polling stations at 8am and will continue until 4pm in the 639 Union councils, the lowest tier of the local government.
Hafiz said no ‘major untoward incident’ has been reported so far.
However, two persons, including a 10-year-old boy, have been killed when they were caught up in firing between rival supporters at polling stations in Dhaka and Jessore.
Incidents of booth capturing, ballot stuffing and clashes have been reported from several districts, including Jamalpur, Comilla and Chittagong.
Suspension of polling has been reported from at least five polling centres until now.
In Jessore, three people, including a polls official have been arrested after clashes broke out over ballot stuffing.
“We are looking into the incidents of irregularities. Immediate measures will be taken if anything untoward happens inside a centre. The security forces will deal with trouble that may erupt outside polling stations,” said Hafiz.
EC Deputy Secretary Shamsul Alam said they are yet to get an overall report of irregularities and violence.
The EC, however, could not provide a clear statistics on voter turnout.
Commissioner Hafiz said that he would like to touch on the issue after the voting ends.
Voters’ turnout was 74 percent in first phase of the UP polls held on Mar 22, which was marred by irregularities and violence.
At least eight people died in post-polls violence.