The Awami League supported candidates triumphed in Zilla Parishad Election held across the country on Monday.
However, in eight of the districts, the rebel candidates of AL won and hard contest has been observed in many seats.
As BNP didn’t participated in this election, the contest was limited among the candidates of AL.
In 49 districts, AL candidates won in chairman post. Among them, 25 won without contest and 24 won by contesting in vote. Though BNP, Jatiyo Party and other parties didn’t participate in the election, AL candidates were defeated in 10 districts against independent candidates. However, Awami League candidates won in most of the Zila Parishad Chairman and member posts including reserved for women.
Incidence of breaching of electoral code of conduct and showing supremacy was visible in some seats. Barishal city mayor and City Awami League general secretary Sadik Abdullah was seen to be engaged in verbal conflict with Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) while going to casting votes. Besides, allegations of breaching electoral code of conduct was raised over Member of Parliament (MP) of Natore-2 constituency Shafiqul Islam and other top leaders in the district.
According to the witnesses, The MP came to the main gate of MK Honors College with his car fleet. He left the place at the request of the administration, but came back after three hours with the car fleet.
Election Commission (EC) had issued cadaster of election for 61 districts of the country, excluding 3 districts of Chattogram Hill Tract. Latterly, the election at Chapainawabganj and Noakhali were cancelled by the order of High Court. Besides, there was no candidate except AL candidate in Bhola and Feni. So, election was held in 57 districts.
The election was held from 9 am to 2 pm in 462 centers across the country and vote was taken through Electronic Voting Machines (EVM). In many district, AL candidates had to face hard competition as other candidates from their own party contested in the election.
In the election, there were 60,866 voters or electoral members. They voted to elect 671 representatives in chairman, general member and reserved members’ posts.
However, 25 AL supported candidates were elected without vote. 65 general members and 18 reserved members were elected in the same way.
@The article published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on October 18, 2022 as lead news and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque
