Scattered violence, irregularities mar municipality polls

The municipal polls yesterday were marked by scattered incidents, including technical faults in Electronic Voting Machines, irregularities and an alleged assault on a journalist.

Voters expressed mixed reactions over the use of EVMs. Some found it difficult, while others said it was easier than ballot papers.

The Election Commission held votes in 24 municipalities yesterday as the  first of four phases to stage elections amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Voting in some polling stations was halted due to technical faults in the machines.

In Dhaka's Dhamrai, voting at Ekush Jyoti Bidya Niketon Centre was halted for around three hours in the morning due to technical faults in the EVM, said voters.

"I have been waiting in the queue since around 8:00am. But I have not been able to cast my vote till now due to a technical fault in the EVM," said Nasrin Sultana, who was talking to our correspondent around 11:00am at the centre.

The polling station's Presiding Officer Shah Alam claimed that voting was halted for only around 20 minutes, but it did not have any impact because voting was continuing through other EVMs.

This correspondent found technical faults in EVMs in at least seven polling centres in Dhamrai municipality.

Meanwhile, a journalist was allegedly assaulted by a presiding officer while covering the municipality elections at Dhamrai Collegiate School centre.

The centre's Presiding Officer Azizul Haque allegedly snatched the mobile phone of Jahir Raihan, a staff reporter of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, and also attacked and verbally abused him, the journalist alleged.

Contacted, Azizul claimed that he snatched the mobile phone as the journalist was secretly taking pictures of secret voting booths, which he said was illegal. Jahir, however, said he was taking pictures of voting out in the open.

Meanwhile, BNP candidate Dewan Nazim Uddin Monju boycotted the elections alleging irregularities in voting, obstructing him from casting a vote, and harassment of his activists.

In Barishal's Bakerganj, young Chaiti Das cast her vote for the first time at Bakerganj Government Primary School.

"I feel that I am very lucky to have a chance to cast my first vote through an EVM. It appears very easy to me," she told The Daily Star after exiting the polling station.

Housewife Mitali Das, who cast her vote at Bakerganj Government College, said, "I was able to learn how to use EVMs in mock voting a few days ago, so I faced no trouble in casting my vote."

Meanwhile, BNP mayoral candidate SM Moniruzzaman alleged that his polling agents were driven out from around 10 centres.

In Chatmohar of Pabna, irregularities took place in some polling stations with polling officials playing a questionable role.

The Daily Star's Pabna correspondent visited Afratpara Government Primary School around 11:00am and found only polling agents of the boat symbol at the centre. No agents of other mayoral candidates could be found there.

It was also noticed that Awami League candidate agents were entering the secret room with voters. As per law, only a voter is allowed to go there to cast a vote.

Asked about it, the agents said they were helping voters use EVMs.

Contacted, the centre's Presiding Officer Md Hasanuzzaman said he would look into the matter.

Allegations of similar irregularities were found in other polling stations.

Two mayoral candidates out of four boycotted the election within two hours of the start of voting, alleging corruption.

The municipal elections in Panchagarh was held with some stray incidents.

In Panchagarh, several unruly young people vandalised District Election Officer Md Alamgir's vehicle with sticks around 11:00am in front of the Panchagarh Collectorate Adarsha Shikkha Niketan polling centre while he was returning after visiting the polling centre.   

During the attack, a police constable, Rabiul Islam, was also injured.

Besides, five motorcycles were vandalised at Nurun Ala Nur Madrasa Centre and at least 16 people were injured at Notunbosti Government Primary School as supporters of rival groups of councillor candidates clashed during the elections.

Of the injured, three were shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as their condition deteriorated fast, police and hospital sources said.  

In the election, there were three mayoral candidates, 37 general councillor candidates and 16 councillor candidates for the reserved seat for women.

Yesterday's elections were the first of four phases which the Election Commission had planned amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Along with candidates of two major political parties -- Awami League and BNP, some other parties, including Jatiya Party and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, contested the elections.

Earlier, the EC urged voters to maintain health safety guidelines to avoid spreading of coronavirus. A few days before election day, the EC had also arranged mock voting and campaigns on EVMs in the electoral areas.

There are 6.25 lakh voters in the 24 municipalities. However, the turnout could not be known immediately.

A total of 93 mayoral aspirants contested the 24 posts, while 801 councillor candidates contested 216 posts and 266 candidates for 72 women's reserved seats, as per the EC.

According to the local government division, there are 329 municipalities in the country. The EC will hold elections in 224 municipalities. Tenures of these municipalities will expire by March 2021.

A total of 62 municipalities will go to polls in the second phase on January 15 and the third phase will see elections in 64 municipalities on January 30. The fourth phase is likely to be held in mid-February.

[Our correspondents from Savar, Barishal, Pabna and Panchagarh contributed to this report]