Polls in 126 unions largely peaceful on third day
Voting suspended at a Bhola centre, 43 held for violating election rules
Union Parishad elections were held in 126 unions of eight districts yesterday, the third day of ongoing polls in the lowest tier of local government structure, largely peacefully except a few stray incidents.
The 126 unions include 88 UPs under 11 upazilas of Barisal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna, Bhola and Jhalakathi districts in Barisal division, 24 UPs in Kaliganj and Shyamnagar upazilas of Satkhira and 14 UPs in Mollarhat and Fakirhat upazilas of Bagerhat district.
Polls in six unions of Moheshkhali upazila in Cox's Bazar, earlier scheduled for today, was postponed due to court ruling.
Our Barisal correspondent reports that UP elections were held peacefully in Barisal division except suspension of vote casting in a Bhola centre and sporadic clashes among groups of rival candidates in another centre.
At least 43 people were detained for trial by mobile court on charge of violence and breaking election rule.
Report from Bhola says vote casting was suspended at Uttar-Purba Batamara Government Primary School centre in Baro Manikka union under Borhanuddin upazila in the district at 12 noon.
"Higher authority ordered suspending election at this centre after miscreants entered the centre and snatched some ballot papers," said Kamal Hossain, presiding officer of the centre.
Law enforcers brought the situation under control.
Local people later brought out procession demanding punishment to the miscreants.
Seventeen people were detained for violence and breaking election rule, said the OC of Borhanuddin police station.
Supporters of two UP member candidates engaged in a fierce clash at Purba Ramnaganj Primary School centre in Ramaganj union of Lalmohan upazila at 2:30pm.
"Rab and police charged baton and fired four rounds of blank shots to control the situation. At least 13 people including police constable Khokan were injured in the incident. Twenty people were detained for breaking election code of conduct in Lalmohan upazila," said Babul Akter, officer in charge of Lalmohan police station.
Our Patuakhali correspondent adds: Election was held peacefully in nine UPs under Dumki and Mirzaganj upazilas in Patuakhali district yesterday.
In Mirzaganj upazila, Hijazul Islam, 19, of Jhatibunia village was awarded six months' jail as he was campaigning inside a polling centre in favour of a chairman candidate in Amragachia UP. A judicial magistrate delivered the judgment after a short trial when a police official arrested him from the spot.
Heavy rainfall for about two hours from 12:30pm to 2:30pm hampered vote casting in all three UPs under Dumki upazila.
Election to all nine UPs under Kalapara upazila will be held on Friday, the fourth day of the UP election in the country.
Correspondents from Satkhira and Bagerhat have reported holding of peaceful polls in the UPs under the districts.
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