Voting ends, counting begins for Bangladesh Parliamentary polls

Read below: Bangladesh PM confident of victory for fourth straight term

DHAKA: The voting for the 12th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh ended on Sunday and counting has started, the Election Commission said.

The counting, which began at 8.00 am local time across 42,000 polling centres for 299 parliamentary seats, ended at 4.00 pm, The Daily Star reported.

The counting of votes has begun, the Election Commission said.

The polls were marred by sporadic incidents of violence, clash and rigging, local media reported.

Awami League leader Zillur Rahman was found dead near a polling centre in Munshiganj this morning.

Rahman was a supporter of AL-nominated candidate from Munshiganj-3 Mrinal Kanti Das. Munshiganj SP said Aslam Khan said the body was recovered but there were no reports of violence from the polling centre.

Earlier in the day, a clash broke out between opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) men and police in Chattogram city’s Chandgaon area.

The BNP men, who were staging demonstrations by blocking the road with burning tyres, threw stones on police personnel who retaliated, police said.

Eight candidates in different constituencies boycotted the polls, alleging vote rigging and irregularities.

Four people, including a child, were injured after unidentified people exploded two crude bombs near a polling centre in Hazaribagh near Dhaka.

Voting at Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo) was cancelled over allegations of ballot stuffing.

According to the Election Commission, a total of 1,970 candidates are in the poll fray.

At one seat, the election will be held later because of the death of an independent candidate.

The candidates include 1,534 from political parties and 436 independents.

The BNP had called a 48-hour nationwide general strike from Saturday seeking resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh PM confident of victory for fourth straight term

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikha Hasina on Sunday exuded confidence of winning the 12th parliamentary polls.

Talking to reporters after casting her ballot, Hasina, who is eyeing fourth straight term for the office of Prime Minister, said she has faith on the people of her country and is confident of winning the polls, Dhaka Tribune reported.

“BNP is a party of terrorists and they never believed in election. It was formed by a military dictator who grabbed the state power,” she said.

Voting of 12 parliamentary election is underway in the country where sporadic incidents of violence have been reported.

Sporadic violence mars Bangladesh polls, 27.15% voter turnout till 3.00 pm

Sporadic incidents of violence, clashes and alleged rigging marred the Bangladesh Parliamentary polls, which saw 27.15 per cent voter turnout across 42,000 polling stations till 3.00 pm, local media reported.

Addressing a media briefing, Election Commission secretary Jahangir Alam said 27.15 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 3.00 pm, The Daily Star reported.