BSS-21 People cast vote amid festivity barring sporadic violence

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POLLING-END-LEAD

People cast vote amid festivity barring sporadic violence

DHAKA, Dec 30, 2018 (BSS)-Voting of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad Election ended peacefully barring some sporadic violence as supports of rival candidates clashed at some places while the Election Commission said countrymen cast their vote amid festivity.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said barring some unwanted incidents, the polling so far was smooth and peaceful.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told media that some of their candidates stayed off the vote in their “personal decisions” but the party will announce its stance at 4PM when the voting will end.

Eminent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain who leads main opposition alliance Jatiyaoikya Front with BNP being its key partner, however, said the overall environment is not bad with huge turnout of voters.

A team of foreign and local election observers said voting was taking place smoothly and peacefully and everyone is getting access to polling station.

“Everybody is getting access to their polling station and able to cast their ballot. All of the officers and officials are doing a great job maintaining order,” said Tania Foster, observer from Canada.

According to information available from our correspondents, sporadic violence took places at some polling centres that left eight persons, four from the ruling Awami League, dead and some others injured.

The victims include one Awami League supporter each in Bogura-4, Mohanpur, Pekua upazila’s Rajakhali and Kaukhali upazila of Rangamati. Elderly voter dies in the middle of a chase and counter-chase in Dinajpur-2

Voting suspended at a centre in Noakhali-3 after criminals allegedly carried away all materials.

Opposition BNP activists in Noakhali-1 constituency attacked Ansar personnel and snatched arms and ammunitions from them, said police super Elias Sharif.

The opposition activists attacked judicial magistrates in Noakhali and Chandpur.

The poling began at 8pm and the voter turnout was low in the morning due to cold weather, but the number rose sharply with the passing of time.

Long queues of voters were seen in capital’s Khilgaon Government Girls High School, Khilgaon Government High School, Shantinagar Little Angels Learning Home polling centers.

“Though there is a little crowd but the voting is continuing peacefully,” Shahinur Begum, a voter waiting to cast her ballot in Khilgaon Government High School, told BSS.

“The balloting is continuing peacefully since it began in the morning. If it continues like this, we can say the voting will be peaceful. The overall situation is very good,” Delwar Hossain, presiding officer at Kadamtala School and College, said.

BSS correspondents from across the country are sending reports of peaceful balloting, with separate incidents in one or two centers.

Number of the voters in the 11th parliament election in different polling centers of 16 constituencies in Chittagong city and district began to increase with passing of the time.

Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram, Ilias Hossain, said the voting was continuing in total peaceful atmosphere excepting some stray incidents in Patiya and Banskhali.

According to official sources, the concerned government agencies including district and upazila administrations, Bangladesh Army, RAB, Police and Ansar- VDP have been working round the clock to make the election a total success.

Our Gazipur correspondent said the voting is going ahead peacefully in the district with no untoward incidents reported so far.

“The voting is continuing peacefully with the adequate presence of law enforcement agency members. I hope the situation will prevail till the end,” Md Mosharraf Hossain, presiding officer at Monnu Textile High School center, said.

Balloting is continuing in a peaceful manner in all 566 centers in Natore, with Natore Deputy Commissioner Md Shahriaj saying the authorities is committed to hold a peaceful and participatory election.

Jhalakathi correspondent said voting started at a time in all 237 polling centers in the district at 8am in spite of cold weather. The presence of women voters was significant.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu cast his ballot around 9 am at Jhalakathi Government High School center. Amu later visited different polling centers in Nalchiti Upazila.

Joypurhat correspondent too sent report of peaceful voting, with District commissioner and returning officer Mohammad Zakir Hossain seen visiting different centers, ensuring festive atmosphere.

Voting started at 8am in polling centers under four constituencies in Moulvibazar district like elsewhere in the country.

Balloting is going on peacefully in polling centers under three constituencies in Munshiganj.

Captain of Bangladesh one day cricket team and Narail-2 Awami League hopeful Mashrafe Bin Mortaza cast his ballot at Narail Technical School and College center at around 12 noon.

Balloting was peaceful in Magura also. Magura-1 Awami League candidate advocate Saifuzzaman Shekhar casted his ballot at Model Government Primary School center in Magura town.

Long queues of voters were seen outside the polling centers in Habiganj district from the morning. Voting is going on in 633 centers under four constituencies in the district.

Voting in the 11th Jatiya Sangsad elections was peaceful at all polling centres in five constituencies in Narsingdi.

Talking to the BSS, Awami League candidate for Narsingdi-1 Lt Colonel (retd) Nazrul Islam Hiro MP (Bir pratik) said, the voting is going on in a peaceful manner in his constituency.

Polling started peacefully at 8am in all the three constituencies of Chapainawabganj district. While contacted superintendent of police of Chapainawabganj TM Mojahidul Islam confirmed this.

The polling held in 467 polling centres in which 158 centres under Chapainawabganj-1, 159 centres in Chapainawabganj-2 and 150 centres in Chapainawabganj-3 constituencies.

In Sylhet, the national election held in a peaceful and festive atmosphere with impressive participation of all ages of the people.

Long queues of voters were seen in the polling centre at Haji Shah Mir Govt. Primary Schhol Cnetre in Shahi Eidgah area in the district. Same picture was seen in other polling centre in the Sylhet city.

Yasmin Haque told the news agency that she cast her vote in a peaceful atmosphere. Like Yasmin, many voters expressed their satisfaction over peaceful environment in the district.

In Netrokona, the 11th parliamentary election was held in five constituencies under the district fairly and peacefully amidst tight security.

Reports reaching here from the five constituencies said that voting started from 8 AM in all the 617 vote centers of the five constituencies under the district and will continue till 4 PM without any break.

The voting of the 11th parliament election started in Manikganj peacefully. Returning Officer S M Ferdous expressed his satisfaction as voters cast their votes in a peaceful atmosphere.

The general election is continuing peacefully with a festive mood in different districts including Satkhira, Narayanganj, Goipalganj, Naogain, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Kushtia.

BSS/CORR/TAN/QC/1645 hrs