FACTBOX BNP still ahead by 6 | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com
BNP still ahead by 6
Fri, Jan 14th, 2011 2:16 am
Dhaka, Jan 14 (bdnews24.com) Pro-BNP candidates won in 46 while Awami League-backed candidates in 40 out of 121 municipalities that went to polls on Wednesday and Thursday.
On the second day polls in 49 municipalities under Barisal and Khulna divisions, pro-Awami League candidates won in 22, while BNP-backed candidates in 14.
On Wednesday, pro-BNP candidates won in 32 municipalities, while pro-Awami League aspirants in 18 of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Elections were held in 49 municipalities of Rajshahi division, while in 23 of Rangpur divisions.
Rebel candidates of the divisions won in a significant number of municipalities on both the days. On Thursday, Awami League rebel candidates won in seven, while those of the BNP in three municipalities. On Wednesday, five Awami League rebel candidates and four breakaway BNP candidates were elected.
Independent candidates won in three municipalities on Thursday, while six on Wednesday. Jatiya Party and Jamaat-e-Islami-backed candidates won in none of the municipalities on Thursday, but in two and five respectively on Wednesday.
The Election Commission claimed that the polls on the two days were fair, which the BNP agreed on Wednesday. But on the second day, BNP alleged irregularities in two municipalities Gournadi and Mehendiganj.
NEGATIVE MARKS
Though the elections were almost fair and peaceful on the two days, some stray incidents left negative marks on them.
On Thursday, returning officers cancelled polls in one centre at Bhola's Borhanuddin and that of another at Barisal's Mehendiganj after detection of irregularities. Voting was also cancelled at Char Hogla Quomi Madrasa centre of Mehendiganj for snatching ballot papers.
Three polling officers were arrested from Kutba High School centre of Borhanuddin after officials found a stash of 100 ballot papers with seals on the symbol of an Awami League-supported candidate.
At least 10 people were injured in a post-polls clash between the supporters of an Awami League-backed and another rebel candidate in Santhia municipality.
On Wednesday, election results were postponed in Syedpur municipality when one unsuccessful councillor candidate snatched a sack of ballot papers after the polls ended in a centre.
The results were announced on Thursday, excluding the counts of that particular centre.
Meanwhile, the mobile courts, formed with executive and judicial magistrates, before and during the polls around the countries fined and sentenced a number of supporters and candidates for electoral code breach.
MORE TO COME
Elections in 63 municipalities under Dhaka division are set to be held on Monday.
On Tuesday, elections are scheduled to be held in 43 municipalities of Chittagong and 16 of Sylhet divisions.
The elections in 14 municipalities which were deferred due to legal complications will be held on Jan 27. Elections are set to be held in 257 municipalities.
bdnews24.com/corr/msb/dd/mhc/si/pc/sh/ost/pks/mr/0210h
BNP still ahead by 6
Fri, Jan 14th, 2011 2:16 am
Dhaka, Jan 14 (bdnews24.com) Pro-BNP candidates won in 46 while Awami League-backed candidates in 40 out of 121 municipalities that went to polls on Wednesday and Thursday.
On the second day polls in 49 municipalities under Barisal and Khulna divisions, pro-Awami League candidates won in 22, while BNP-backed candidates in 14.
On Wednesday, pro-BNP candidates won in 32 municipalities, while pro-Awami League aspirants in 18 of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Elections were held in 49 municipalities of Rajshahi division, while in 23 of Rangpur divisions.
Rebel candidates of the divisions won in a significant number of municipalities on both the days. On Thursday, Awami League rebel candidates won in seven, while those of the BNP in three municipalities. On Wednesday, five Awami League rebel candidates and four breakaway BNP candidates were elected.
Independent candidates won in three municipalities on Thursday, while six on Wednesday. Jatiya Party and Jamaat-e-Islami-backed candidates won in none of the municipalities on Thursday, but in two and five respectively on Wednesday.
The Election Commission claimed that the polls on the two days were fair, which the BNP agreed on Wednesday. But on the second day, BNP alleged irregularities in two municipalities Gournadi and Mehendiganj.
NEGATIVE MARKS
Though the elections were almost fair and peaceful on the two days, some stray incidents left negative marks on them.
On Thursday, returning officers cancelled polls in one centre at Bhola's Borhanuddin and that of another at Barisal's Mehendiganj after detection of irregularities. Voting was also cancelled at Char Hogla Quomi Madrasa centre of Mehendiganj for snatching ballot papers.
Three polling officers were arrested from Kutba High School centre of Borhanuddin after officials found a stash of 100 ballot papers with seals on the symbol of an Awami League-supported candidate.
At least 10 people were injured in a post-polls clash between the supporters of an Awami League-backed and another rebel candidate in Santhia municipality.
On Wednesday, election results were postponed in Syedpur municipality when one unsuccessful councillor candidate snatched a sack of ballot papers after the polls ended in a centre.
The results were announced on Thursday, excluding the counts of that particular centre.
Meanwhile, the mobile courts, formed with executive and judicial magistrates, before and during the polls around the countries fined and sentenced a number of supporters and candidates for electoral code breach.
MORE TO COME
Elections in 63 municipalities under Dhaka division are set to be held on Monday.
On Tuesday, elections are scheduled to be held in 43 municipalities of Chittagong and 16 of Sylhet divisions.
The elections in 14 municipalities which were deferred due to legal complications will be held on Jan 27. Elections are set to be held in 257 municipalities.
bdnews24.com/corr/msb/dd/mhc/si/pc/sh/ost/pks/mr/0210h
