The first phase of Upazila Parishad polls ended on Wednesday amid sporadic clashes in various districts, including Madaripur, Munshiganj, Sunamganj, Bogura, Cumilla, Chapainawabganj and Noakhali, leaving at least 50 people injured.
Untoward incidents like gunshots, violent clashes, suspension of voting and arrest of presiding officers were also reported during the polls.
Voting to 139 upazilas started at 8:00 am and continued till 4:00 pm without any break.
At least 10 people were injured in a clash between the two chairman aspirants in Madaripur Sadar Upazila. The incident took place between the supporters of Asibur Rahman Khan, son of AL presidium member Shajahan Khan, and Pavelur Rahman Khan.
During the clash, 10 bombs exploded at Balia Government Primary School centre, creating panic in the area. Being informed, additional police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
At Gazaria in Munshiganj, police fired six rounds of rubber bullet to bring the situation control after a clash erupted between the supporters of two chairman candidates. At least five people were injured in the clash.
The supporters of two chairman aspirants of Bholaganj Upazila were locked in a clash at Bireshwarpur Government Primary School, leaving at least three people injured. Police nabbed a man from the spot during the clash. The supporters of
the two chairman hopeful of Shalla clashed in front of Chabbisha Government Primary School. At least 10 supporters were injured in the clash. Earlier, police arrested four people, including an assistant presiding officer, from the centre at 2:00 am.
Two on-duty assistant presiding officers of Sonaroy High School of Bogura were relieved of the duty due to irregularities in voting while two people, including a presiding officer, were nabbed from Kusumkali centre.
After the polls, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal at a briefing said that some 37 people were nabbed during 34 untoward incidents that left 25 people injured.
“According to available information, some 34 incidents took place across the country during the polls. As many as 25 people were injured and 37 people were arrested. But none of the incidents took place at the polling centre. All the clashes, chase and counter-chase occurred outside the centres,” he said.
The CEC claimed that voting was held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
About the voter turnout, the CEC said that 30 to 40 per cent votes might be cast.
“Voters did not turn up to the polling centres as they were busy harvesting paddy. Rain was also a reason for low turnout,” he added.
Some 1,635 aspirants competed in the first phase of Upazila Parishad polls. Of them, 570 vied for the post of chairman, 625 for vice chairman and 440 for the post of female vice chairman.
A total of 418 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have already been deployed to fend off any untoward incident during the elections.
