AL ahead in early ballot count after violence marks polls

Monirul Alam of DOT : 
The ruling Awami League (AL) led coalition has taken the lead in early ballot count at 122 constituencies, out of total 299, and recorded victory unofficially at 59 others, while Dr Kamal Hossain-led alliance Jatiya Oikyafront that includes BNP shows progress in only two constituencies.
The counting started following conclusion of an eight-hour nonstop voting for the 11th Parliamentary polls from 8:00am to 4:00pm yesterday in almost peaceful atmosphere in Dhaka while fierce sporadic clashes were reported in parts of the country, leaving 16 killed so far.
Over one hundred were others including police were injured in the clashes.
At least 45 candidates have boycotted the voting citing irregularities including massive rigging of vote and capture of polling centres against ruling AL activists, threatening voters, obstructing polling agents to remain present in poll centres in their favor in 221 constituencies and  police’s partisan behavior and non-cooperation.
According to the EC, a total of 1,861 candidates contested in 299 constituencies out of total 300. Out of them, 1,733 candidates represented 39 political parties while remaining 128 were independent aspirants. Election at the remaining constituency (Gainbandha-3) has been postponed due to death of one of the candidates.
Enthusiastic voters, aged ranging from younger to older, were seen lined up to cast ballots at many poll centres. Some of the foreign observers after visiting several poll stations in Dhaka city expressed satisfaction over the elections. UN, USA, EU, OIC and other international organizations kept an eye on the election developments.
In Bangladesh, the day of elections was an occasion of national holiday and both the public and private transports were restricted on roads and waterways in a view to unleash uninterrupted access of voters to poll centres and prevent untoward incidents.
In Dhaka, members of army were seen patrolling main streets while members of BGB and police guarded the polling centres and remained alert on roads around polling stations.
From outside Dhaka, police recorded at least 16 incidents of election-related clashes in different localities in districts during the voting period that left 13 people killed and 64 others injured including police and its aiding force Ansars. Police and witnessing account say the list of killed and injured included activists of both the ruling Awami League (AL) and its main rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a member of Ansars. Incidents of killing reported from Rangamati, Cumilla, Natore, Narshingdi, Lakshmipur, Chattagram, Brahmanbaria, Tangail, Bogura, Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Noakhali districts.
Police vehicle, candidate’s car, houses and shops were torched in some of the clashes. Eight persons have so far been arrested by police in connection with the clashes. The clashes were reported to have taken place over the vote-related rivalry, obstruction to enter poll centres, sequel to previous enmity over loyalty to respective political party and establishing supremacy.
While voting in progress, some 45 candidates of BNP, Jamaat and other allies of Jatiya Oikyafront have boycotted elections raising allegations of vote-rigging and capture of polling centres against ruling AL activists, threatening voters, obstructing polling agents to enter poll centres and police’s partisan behavior and non-cooperation.
A delegation of BNP visited the Election Commission in the afternoon and lodged complaints that their polling agents were not allowed in 221 constituencies. The party submitted a written complaint, signed by its National Election Conducting Committee Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan, to the Chief Election Commissioner.
“Our polling agents are being intimidated and obstructed while entering voting stations. In some cases, they are being driven out from the polling stations or being arrested,” said BNP Joint Secretary General Moazzem Hossain Alal.
Meanwhile, AL Joint Secretary Abdur Rahman said the elections held free, fair and peacefully. “Some sporadic incidents took place in which 13 people have been killed, 11 of them are our men. Remaining two are members of Ansars,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, the EC officials have started counting votes under the supervision of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers. Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding officers are leading the counting of votes. Edit: Sayeed Muhammad