BNP-backed Chittagong mayor candidate Manjur boycotts polls

BNP-endorsed Chittagong mayor aspirant M Manjur Alam has boycotted the elections alleging large-scale rigging in the port city.

The former mayor announced the decision at a media conference on Tuesday morning, few hours after voting started.

He also hinted at quitting politics.

Alam’s chief election agent BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury claimed about 80 percent polling stations had been taken over by ruling party activists.

Chowdhury alleged the security forces were 'mute spectators' all the time.

In the morning, Alam claimed various voting stations had been occupied and his agents were not allowed at many centres.

He said he had complained to the returning officer.

Alam had defeated Awami League-supported ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury in the 2010 polls by 95,000 votes.

The ruling party has endorsed AJM Nasir Uddin this time, hoping to reverse the tide on the back of anti-incumbency.

“I’m boycotting the election and pulling myself out of the race,” Alam told reporters. “It is my last election. I’m bowing out of politics.”