AL wins in 4, BNP 3 in re-polls

Awami League-nominated mayor candidates won in four of the seven municipalities that went to re-elections yesterday.

BNP favourites came out victorious in the rest.

Voting took place in 51 centres of 20 municipalities where elections were suspended on December 30 for violence and irregularities.

Voters in those municipalities also elected 13 councillors.

With yesterday's results, the ruling AL-sponsored mayor aspirants now won in 182 municipalities, BNP candidates in 23, Jatiya Party favourite in one and independent candidates in 28.

Though the voting was largely peaceful, voting was suspended at two polling centres due to violence and irregularities, our correspondents report.

In Madhabdi, unidentified miscreants blasted around 20 cocktails outside the Nur Alam Bhuiyan Madrasa centre around 3:15pm. Police fired shots in the air to disperse them and detained five people from there. The returning officer then suspended the voting there.

Voting was also cancelled at the Dakkhin Nazirpur Govt Primary School centre in Noakhali's Chowmuhani municipality.

Also in Chowmuhani, a mobile court sent two people to jail for six months in the Uttar Nazirpur Govt Primary School centre and three people for 20 days in the Madhya Karimpur Govt Primary School centre for violation of the electoral code of conduct.