The second phase of elections to 60 municipalities ended on Saturday (Jan 16) amid sporadic clashes, chases and counter-chases, blasting home-made bombs and boycotts.
BNP nominated mayor candidates boycotted the elections at four municipalities during the voting, while an independent mayor candidate boycotted the polls in one municipality.
Besides, the councilor candidates announced boycotting of votes.
The casting of ballots started at 8:00am and ended at 4:00pm. Counting of ballots is now going on. The officers concerned at the polling centres will send the results to the returning officers after handing over the results to the polling agents at each centre. The returning officers will announce the preliminary unofficial results after counting the results received from all centres.
In Savar, online newsportal Banglanews correspondent Sagar Fardin was assaulted by Kamrul Hasan Shaheen, son of Awami League-backed mayor candidate Haji Abdul Gani, while covering election news at a polling centre there.
Shaheen snatched away the cell phone of Sagar Fardin while he was taking an interview of a female voter. He also used some abusive words out of anger.
In Bagerhat, BNP mayoral candidate Julfiker Ali and 12 councilor candidates boycotted Mongla port municipality election, bringing allegation of irregularities and vote rigging.
Julfiker Ali alleged that Awami League supporters occupied all polling stations soon after the voting started. They drove out the BNP agents.
In Feni, three people including an ansar man were injured while two cocktails were exploded and a counter chase took place at Gonipur Government Primary School polling centre in Dagonbhuiyan.
Presiding officer Gofran Uddin said the voters were casting their votes, despite the chaotic situation.
In Kishoreganj, voting has been postponed at Wali Newaz Khan College polling centre following clashes between the supporters of Awami League and BNP candidates.
