Voting in the Khulna City Corporation Election concluded on Tuesday amid the allegations of capturing some polling stations, vote fraud and violence in some areas.
The polling that began at 8:00 am concluded at 4pm without any break. The turnout of voters was said to be around 50 per cent.
A total of five mayoral candidates, 148 general councillor and 38 reserved-seat female councillor candidates are there in the election race.
Five mayoral candidates, 148 general councillor and 38 reserved-seat female councillor candidates are there in the election race, reports UNB.
The mayoral contenders are Awami League's Talukder Abdul Khalek, Nazrul Islam Manju of BNP, Jatiya Party's Shafiqur Rahman Mushfiq, Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Maulana Mozammil Haque and CPB's Mizanur Rahman Babu.
The voting was suspended in three polling centres due to violence, capturing of polling stations and forced balloting.
Returning officer Yunus Ali said voting in two polling centres, Labanchora Government Primary School and ward no 31 ward councillor office, under ward No 31 were suspended around 2:20 pm due to snatching of ballot papers and forced balloting.
Besides, voting was suspended at Khulna Govt Iqbal Nagar School centre in ward No 24 following snatching of ballot papers by miscreants around 10:30 am, said presiding officer Khalilur Rahman.
Meanwhile, voting at Fatema High School in ward No 22 was suspended for two hours from 10:30am following an incident of fake voting.
Two bombs were blasted in front of the Khulna Government Women College polling centre around 3:30 pm, halting balloting for sometimes.
Earlier, Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khalek cast vote at Pioneer Girls' High School polling centre around 8:07am, and said the voting was going on in a peaceful and festive manner.
But, BNP mayoral candidate Nazrul Islam Manju alleged the ruling party men have driven out his polling agents from at least 40 centres.
Manju also alleged that his agents were obstructed from entering polling centres in ward No 22.
Besides, the ruling party men beat one of his polling agents at Zila School centre, alleged Manju. However, he said he will wait until the end.
At a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that ruling party men resorted to various irregularities in 50 per cent of polling stations.