Voting end amid sporadic violence, 1 killed

Voting of the 4th phase polls to 55 municipalities ended on Sunday afternoon amid reports of sporadic violence and irregularities. Balloting started at 8am and concluded at 4pm without any break. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used in 29 municipalities while traditional ballot papers in the rest 26 municipalities.

In Chattogram, a man was shot dead and three others got bullet wounded in a clash between the supporters of two councillor candidates at Patiya municipality. The deceased was identified as Abdullah, brother of the councilor aspirant Mannan.

An altercation took place between the supporters of two councilor candidates at Dakkhin Gobindarkhil polling station under ward number 8 at noon, said Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Patiya Police Station. At one stage, both groups exchanged fires, leaving three people injured. Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital where doctors pronounced Abdullah dead. Police also took two councilor candidates-Mohamamd Mannan and Sarwar Kamal Rajib-into custody.

Besides, the family members of Abdul Khalek, councillor candidate of ward 1 of the municipality, said that he was abducted by some miscreants. In Chandpur, BNP mayoral candidate of Faridganj municipality boycotted the polls alleging irregularities and vote rigging.

4th phase municipal polls

On January 3, the Election Commission announced the election schedule for 56 bodies in the 4th phase municipal polls.

 Of the 56 municipalities, polls to Natore and Kalkini of Madaripur were postponed at the orders of the court and the Election Commission respectively, while the candidates in all posts of Parshuram of Feni were elected unopposed, finding no single contender against each post there. But later two more municipalities - Sonaimuri of Noakhali and Trishal of Mymensingh-were in incorporated in the 4th phase election.

There are some 8.3 million voters under 793 polling stations in the 55 municipalities. In the election, 55 mayors, 167 women councillors from the reserved seats, and 501 general councillors will be elected. A total of 217 mayoral candidates, 618 women councillor contestants, and 2,070 general councillor contended in the race.

The election to 24 municipalities was held on December 28, 60 municipalities went to polls on January 16 and 62 municipalities on January 30. The fifth phase election to 31 municipalities is scheduled to be held on February 28.