CTG/Sylhet Div. Voting Ends Amid Violence

[eastwatch]

CTG-SYLHET POLLSVoting ends amid violence | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com

CTG-SYLHET POLLS
Voting ends amid violence
Tue, Jan 18th, 2011 4:20 pm

Dhaka, Jan 18 (bdnews24.com) — Elections in 58 municipalities under Chittagong and Sylhet divisions have ended amid violence and suspension of votes in some areas.

The scenario on Tuesday was quite different than the previous elections in other divisions.

Incidents of disorder took place in Feni, Habiganj, Parshuram and Sandwip municipalities.

The Election Commission suspended elections in Senbagh and 14 centres of Noakhali Sadar municipalities.

Troublemakers reportedly beat up a presiding officer and snatched two ballot boxes in Feni.

There have been allegations that ruling party cadres drove out polling agents of BNP-backed mayor candidates from five centres in Feni and Sandwip municipalities.

In another report, at least six people were injured in a clash between the supporters of two councillor candidates in Feni.

In Habiganj municipality, BNP-backed mayor candidate G K Gaus and his supporters clashed with local Juba League activists.

Voting at Banshpetua centre in Parshuram municipality was stopped for half an hour at 10am when a handful of youths reportedly snatched ballot boxes and beat up assistant presiding officer Saad Ahmed. The army then swung into action and brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, BNP also rejected polls in Chhengarchar municipality of Chandpur alleging that ruling party supporters were casting fake votes after taking control over polling centres.

The elections were held in 42 municipalities under Chittagong division as polls in one of its municipalities, Brahmanbaria, were postponed on Monday, a day before the election.

In Sylhet division, elections were held in 16 municipalities.

Army and BDR were deployed in 18 municipalities of the two divisions to ensure peaceful polling, but elections in many areas were marred due to violence.

BDR troops have deployed in 27 municipalities of the two divisions to act as striking forces in the event of any possible violence.

Army and BDR have been deployed jointly in Kachua, Rauzan and Rangunia municipalities which were identified as risky constituencies.

One judicial magistrate and an executive magistrate were posted in each municipality for holding spot trial for violating the election code of conduct or any other election-related offences.

In Chittagong division, a total of 213 candidates were vying for mayoral posts, 418 for 161 reserved councillor posts for women and 1,808 for 393 general councillor posts in 42 municipalities.

A total of 1,041,307 voters were expected to cast their votes at 3,180 polling booths of 525 polling centres in the division.

In 16 municipalities of Sylhet division, 74 candidates were in the race for mayoral posts, 181 for reserved councillor posts for women and 614 for general councillor posts.
In these municipalities, there were 822 polling booths under 187 centres for some 295,990 voters.

In this connection, municipal elections are scheduled to be held in 14 more municipalities under five divisions on Jan 27.

 

[eastwatch]

BNP demands re-election in Noakhali | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com

BNP demands re-election in Noakhali
Tue, Jan 18th, 2011 3:12 pm BdST

Dhaka, Jan 18 (bdnews24.com)—BNP has demanded postponement of polls in all the municipalities of greater Noakhali and Chittagong's Sandwip, alleging that the polls in the municipalities have been rigged.

A BNP delegation, led by senior joint secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, went to the Election Commission (EC) to meet the chief election commissioner (CEC) but they failed to meet him.

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan demanded the re-elections in the municipalities at a press briefing in the party's Naya Paltan office on Tuesday noon.

He said, "Mockery is being taking place in the name of polls in all the municipalities of Noakhali, Feni, Lakkhipur and Chitagong's Sandwip.

"Ruling party cadres are rigging polls at a large scale by taking control over the centres," he added.

Polls are underway at seven municipalities in Noakhali, four in Lakkhipur and three in Feni along with 44 others of 14 districts in Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.

Khan said, "No polls are going on there. I've heard sounds of gunshots while talking with our parliament members present there."

He slated the Election Commission for its 'silence', saying that the chief election commissioner and the other commissioners should conduct on-spot investigation visiting Sandwip, Feni, Lakkhipur and Noakhali by helicopter.

"But they have not taken any step," the BNP leader alleged.

"They are waiting for the returning officers. The administration is also silent about this," he added.

On the other hand, EC officials said the CEC was in a meeting with the other commissioners when the BNP delegation wanted to meet him.

Alamgir told reporters that they came to the EC to inform them about the 'mockery in the name of polls' in the municipalities under Noakhali and other districts.

"We were told that they will not meet anyone in polls day on principle," he added.

The BNP delegation submitted a compliant to the CEC's private secretary before leaving.

 

[kobiraaz]

Awami Cowards are all scared. They know it very well, without election engineering and violence there is no chance for them. Only After two years people rejected their digital deception! eagerly waiting for 2014

 

[Al-zakir]

BNP 27
Al 21

Defiance against Bharati Dalal Al's terror and manipulation. BNP would have sweep if there weren't any interference nevertheless BNP get the last lough. Munafiq AL is shaking to see the shadow Baba Azrael ahead.

 

[Al-zakir]

Awami Cowards are all scared. They know it very well, without election engineering and violence there is no chance for them. Only After two years people rejected their digital deception! eagerly waiting for 2014

BNP should realize by now that most Bangladeshi doesn't care about what took place 40 years ago. They are looking ahead and they would like to jump in the development caravan. No body care about this phony blonoy orchestrated war crime and other Awamis BS barking.

BNP should mobilize all like minded party including blood brother Jamat and demand mid term election otherwise hell condition should welcome Awami munafiq bharati dalals.

 

[akash57]

BNP fights back bagging 25

Dhaka, Jan 18 (bdnews24.com) — BNP-backed mayoral aspirants have turned around winning 25 out of 53 municipalities under Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.

In the local elections held on Tuesday, Awami League hopefuls came out successful in 21 municipalities, while independent candidates in three.

Meanwhile, rebel candidates from both the main parties won in one municipality each while Liberal Democratic Party-supported candidate in one.

None of the candidates backed by Jatiya Party and Jamaat-e-Islami could win any mayoral post on Tuesday.

Voting took place from 8am to 4pm in 58 municipalities.

The Election Commission, which claimed the elections were peaceful, suspended polls in one while results in four other municipalities.

It also suspended polls in 18 centres of Noakhali Sadar and several others in other municipalities.

The EC hopes that the turnout could be 70 percent.

"The commission is satisfied with Tuesday's overall municipal polls except some stray incidents in Chittagong division and Habiganj," Sohul Hussain told reporters at the EC secretariat after the polls.

Meanwhile, BNP demanded reelection in 18 municipalities, including those in greater Noakhali. They alleged the ruling party influenced the polls.

CHITTAGONG DIVISION

Among the division's 42 municipalities, Awami League-backed candidates won in Rangunia, Baroiarhat, Mirsarai, Swandip, Patia and Banshkhali of Chittagong, Basurhat, Choumohoni and Chatkhil of Noakhali, Feni's Sadar and Porshuram, Choddogram of Comilla, Lakkhipur's Sadar and Ramganj and Chandpur's Chhengarchar.

A relegate candidate won in Hatia municipality of Noakhali.

BNP favourites won in Rauzan and Satkania of Chittagong, Akhaura of Brahmanbaria, Comilla's Chandina, Daudkandi and Barura, Chandpur's Hajiganj, Shahrasti, Kachua and Matlab, Lakkhipur's Roypur and Ramgoti, Rangamati Sadar, Matiranga in Khagrachharhi, and Bandarban's Sadar and Lama municipalities.

Chandpur's Faridhganj municipality was taken by a BNP rebel candidate.

Independent candidates won in Khagrachharhi Sadar, and Comilla's Laksam and Homna municipalities, while an LDP candidate in Chandnaish.

Elections were suspended in Senbagh, while results were suspended in Noakhali's Sadar, Sonagazi and Kabirhat, and Comilla's Nangolkot.

SYLHET DIVISION

Awami League-backed candidates won in Kanaighat and Jokiganj municipalities of Sylhet, Sunamganj's Sadar, Chhatak and Dirai, and Nabiganj of Habiganj municipalities.

An Awami League relegate candidate won in madhabpur of Habiganj.

BNP-backed candidates took office in Moulvibazar's Sadar, Srimangal, Kamalganj, Kulaura and Borolekha and Sunamganj's Jagannathpur, Habiganj's Sadar, Shayestaganj and Chunarughat municipalities.

CTG-SYLHET POLLS BNP fights back bagging 25 | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com

 

[idune]

Awami League vote rigging:


Photo:
In left photo Awami League cadres destroying ballots

In Right photo Awami League cadre forcefully rigging vote in front of presiding officer
Amardesh Online Edition

 

[idune]

Awami League hijacking ballot bax:



Photo: In left Awami league hijacked ballot box and in right an woman with her ID card found her vote was already casted

It is worth mentioning Zakiganj is the place where Bangladeshis face constant aggression from BSF

 

[saleen_s7]

wander why this news doesn't make it to the mainstream media. bt i heard similar stories from various sources to confirm that news is true.

 

[saleen_s7]

Even after the al these irregularities, BNP managed to get majority of the seats. On a free and fair election, they would win landslide with a large margin.

 

[Roybot]

Sorry for poking my noes in here guys, i am just curious.

Were'nt the 2008 elections conducted under the guidance of the Bangladesh Army? And in that election BNP alliance managed to get only 32 seats right?

There can be only two reasons for that. Either the BNP alliance screwed up big time in the earlier 2001-2006 term, or the Bangladesh Army rigged the election in the favor of Awami league? In the case of the first reason what did the BNP alliance do so wrong that it managed to get only 32 seats?

In the case of the latter reason, would'nt that mean that the Bangladesh Army is anti-Bangladesh, since according to most of you guys AL is anti-Bangladesh and an Indian stooge? Is the Bangladesh Army as an organisation politically inclined towards the Awami League?

I know i have made some sweeping generalizations but any insight into this matter will be great

 

[idune]

More clear picture of ballot box hijacking by Awami league cadres:



http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/home/2011/01/19

 

[idune]

wander why this news doesn't make it to the mainstream media. bt i heard similar stories from various sources to confirm that news is true.

Main stream media is under severe repression. You have seen how Mahmudur Rahman, editor of popular newspaper was tortured and jailed.

You have seen how Awami League MPs in JS threatened Daily Star/Prothom Alo editors.

You seen how Awami league used its corrupt kangaroo court system to postpone press clab eleection results.

People are living in fear.

 

[eastwatch]

When the vote results of all the municipalities are tallied, BNP has won more Mayoral seats than AL. AL should have been more punished in this election for trying to be too close to the God-less and bullying India, and its cadres being too greedy and too indisciplined. AL can now start counting its days in power.

Dhaka City mayoral election is long overdue. People there want the mayoral election. However, AL does not want it after it received a defeat in the Chittagong City Mayor election last year. Moreover, AL has lost majority of municipal mayoral polls. Now, AL wants the Dhaka City election in December, although the incumbent himself is BNP-supported.

BNP should demand an immediate Dhaka city election, and after BNP nominated candidate wins, it should demand a new general election. AL should know people are disgusted with this Bharatbondhu Party.

 

[saleen_s7]

Sorry for poking my noes in here guys, i am just curious.

Were'nt the 2008 elections conducted under the guidance of the Bangladesh Army? And in that election BNP alliance managed to get only 32 seats right?

There can be only two reasons for that. Either the BNP alliance screwed up big time in the earlier 2001-2006 term, or the Bangladesh Army rigged the election in the favor of Awami league? In the case of the first reason what did the BNP alliance do so wrong that it managed to get only 32 seats?

In the case of the latter reason, would'nt that mean that the Bangladesh Army is anti-Bangladesh, since according to most of you guys AL is anti-Bangladesh and an Indian stooge? Is the Bangladesh Army as an organisation politically inclined towards the Awami League?

I know i have made some sweeping generalizations but any insight into this matter will be great

Rigged or not, BNP could not have won the 2008 elections for various reasons. The interim government tortured many of its members and the media exaggerated its crimes.The interim govt also destroyed the party by arresting and harrassing many of its members, therefore they could not perform. Not to forget, the party was divided within itself as the reformist parties included some of the top leaders of BNP.Most of the awami leaders refuged in India during the caretaker thats why they were not as badly effected as bnp.
Offcourse, 2001-2006 crimes were also part of the issue, but considering the situation now, those seem pretty minor and insignificant.