BANGLADESH VOTING ENDS AMID POOR TURNOUT

Dhaka, 3 Rabi’ul Awwal 1435/5 January 2014 (MINA) – About 18 people were killed as violent clashes at the 10th parliamentary elections ended on Sunday.

The chaos situation erupted across the country centering the controversial and one-sided polls boycotted by all opposition in Bangladesh.

Vote counting is underway immediately after the voting cast ends at the polling centers of 147 constituencies across the country.

Vote casting started at 8.00 am and ended 4.00 pm without any break, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

At least eight independent candidates boycotted the national polls alleging rigging against ruling party candidates at different districts including capital city Dhaka on Sunday.

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At least 18 people, including the member of law enforcing agency, were killed in election violence on Sunday.

Voting in at least 399 polling centers across the country has been postponed due to attacks by miscreants.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir thanked on Sunday the people of Bangladesh on behalf of Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia for people who rejected the farcical and one-sided elections.

In a statement sent to the media on Sunday, he said the people rejected the controversial 10th parliamentary election of the Awami League government.

Chief Election Commissioner Kaji Rakibuddin Ahmed remarked that few political parties boycotted the 10th Parliamentary polls. As a result the voter turnout is insignificant.

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He made the remarks at a press briefing at the Election Commission office in Dhaka on Sunday.

About seven registered political parties which are pro-ruling party Bangladesh Awami League out of 40 are contesting in the today’s elections.

Voting was held in 147 constituencies out of total of 300, as candidates in 153 seats have already been elected unopposed. All of them unopposed were elected from ruling coalition led by Awami League.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami led 18 party alliance and all of the leftists, centrists, rightists, and Islamists political parties and civil society, international communities, and majority peoples of Bangladesh have boycotted Sunday’s unilateral polls. (T/P09/P04).

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)