Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal city polls: Ballots counting on

Risingbd Desk: Counting votes began as election in the three-city corporation polls — Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Barisal — ended on Monday amid the boycott of BNP-backed mayoral contenders.

Election Commission said the voting was held in free, fair and peaceful environment accept some untoward incidents.

However, BNP candidates complained that vote rigging and irregularities took place.

BNP backed mayoral candidate Advocate Mujibur Rahman Sarwar declared the city election boycott complaining of widespread rigging by Awami League leaders and activists in Barisal.

Earlier, Voting in the elections to the three city corporations -- Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal -- began on Monday morning. The voting began at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm without any break.

Election Commissioner Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury said, "Some untoward incidents were reported just after beginning of the polls. We directed Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police to bring the situation under control. Later, the law enforcers brought the situation under control immediately."

On the other hand, BNP accused the government of devising the Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal city corporation elections according to their blueprint.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed said, “We have lodged several complains to the Election Commission but it did not pay any heed. The commission has turned deaf and dumb. The spineless Election Commission and the illegal government are opposite sides of the same coin”.

Besides, Dhaka Awami League said, the election took place in a festive mood. The party termed BNP's allegation as baseless.


risingbd/Dhaka/July 30, 2018/Sawpon/Tanzim/Nasim