Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Raozan upazila unit has demanded deployment of army in Raozan municipality to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election scheduled for January 18, reports our staff correspondent.
Addressing a press conference at Chittagong Press Club yesterday, leaders of the unit alleged that the ruling partymen have been creating obstacles to electioneering of their mayoral candidate and his workers for the last four days.
During election campaign on Monday, the ruling party activists physically assaulted BNP mayoral candidate Kazi Abdullah Al Hasan, they said.
The Raozan BNP leaders accused the local administration of backing the ruling party mayoral and councilor candidates and demanded immediate removal of the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO).
They also demanded immediate arrest of the ruling party cadres responsible for assaulting BNP mayoral candidate, recovery of illegal arms and security of their mayor and councillors candidate. Otherwise, the BNP leaders threatened to boycott polls.
Raozan BNP President Mohiuddin Ahmed and General secretary Salamat Ali, Vice-President of BNP Raozan municipality unit Sushil Barua and General secretary Sayed Monjurul Haque were present at the press conference.
Natore: Army deployed in 5 out of 6 municipalities
Army personnel have been deployed in five out of six municipalities of the district Monday morning to maintain law and order. The municipalities are Natore sadar, Singra, Gurudashpur, Gopalpur and Noldanga, reports UNB.
Of the 71 polling centres in the municipalities, 48 have been identified as vulnerable to violence.
Deputy Commissioner Mujibar Rahman said mobile teams led by nine magistrates, two Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) teams and 20 police in each centre will also be deployed to hold the elections peacefully.
The Election Commission had earlier identified 56 municipalities in 29 districts vulnerable to poll violence and announced to deploy army in those areas for peaceful voting.
Satkhira: Candidates moving door to door to woo voters
Mayoral and councillor candidates in Satkhira and Kalaroa municipalities are going door to door to woo votes for them.
Besides visiting the different areas, the candidates and their workers are holding rallies at important points of the two municipalities and distributing leaflets among the voters, reports our correspondent.
A total of 12 mayor aspirants, 93 councillor candidates and 27 women for the reserved are in election race in two municipalities. They are making pledges to the voters to get their supports.
Jyotsna Dutta, 35, a social worker of Satkhira municipality, said she will cast her vote for a competent and honest mayoral candidate. "I want such a candidate who will sincerely work for the development of Satkhira town".
Rezaul Islam, a trader in Kalaroa municipality, said he and his family members will cast their votes for honest and sincere candidates.
Lalmonirhat: AL creating obstacles, says Patgram candidate
The BNP-backed mayoral candidate in Patgram municipality has alleged that Awami League activists have been creating obstacles to his election campaign for the last four days.
The mayor aspirant, Salauzzaman Opel, submitted a written complaint to Patgram Upazila Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) on Sunday, according to our correspondent.
Opel told this correspondent that he could not enter many areas of the municipality in the face of resistance by the AL activists.
“Some of my workers were beaten up by the ruling party men while campaigning in the municipal area,” he said.
The BNP candidate requested the Election Commission (EC) to deploy army in the municipality to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. He also urged the EC to take immediate action against the Awami League activists responsible for disrupting his election campaign.
Contacted, AL-backed mayoral aspirant Anisur Rahman Babu denied the allegation.
Bogra: Army posted as 103 of 158 polling centres risky
The district administration and election office have already taken necessary measures to maintain law and order during today's voting in nine municipalities of the district, reports our staff correspondent.
Army personnel have been deployed in Bogra and Sherpur municipalities to ensure peaceful election.
Earlier, the district police administration and election office had identified 103 of 158 polling centers in nine municipalities as 'risky' and prepared a list of those.
Contacted, District Election Officer Abdul Hamid said the list of the 'risky' centers have been handed over to army.
The district administration has deployed 1366 additional police, Ansar and armed police in the municipalities to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.
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