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Bangladesh city polls underway while boycotted by BNP

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Vote counting was underway in Bangladesh's three city corporation and municipal elections that were marred by violations and boycotted by ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The election day passed off without a major incident although all the three BNP backed mayoral candidates in Dhaka and seaport city Chittagong have pulled out of the race alleging the polls were rigged and unfair.

BNP leader Moudud Ahmed said they are boycotting the "farce election" to protest the massive rigging by pro-ruling party.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Bangladesh Awami League party leader Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif has dismissed the allegations by opposition.

Ruling party-backed mayor candidates hold a small lead in the early count.

Stray incidents of clash, arson, vandalism, chase and counter- chase as well as detention have been reported in Dhaka and elsewhere in the Chittagong.

According to the country's electoral rules, such city corporation and municipal elections are to be held in a non- partisan manner, but political parties indirectly nominate candidates to test their popularity in such local level elections.

A total of 48 aspirants are running for mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation while 249 for 45 reserved seats and 891 for 134 general councilor posts in the corporations. Endi