At least 17 candidates have boycotted the 12th parliamentary election alleging massive irregularities like fake voting, occupying the polling centres, and obstructing agents from entering the centres.
Of them, seven candidates were from Jatiya Party (JaPa), two from Trinamool BNP, and one from Gano Front. Seven independent candidates also refrained from contesting the polls.
“It was our firm belief that the election would be held in a free and fair manner. And that is why we stood as candidates to contest the election from Sylhet-2 constituency. But the scenario became different as the ruling Awami League activists and supporters were openly threatening our agents with firearms. As a result, we are forced to boycott the vote," Gano Forum candidate Mokabbir Khan, independent candidate Muhibur Rahman, JaPa candidate Yahia Chowdhury and Trinamool BNP candidate Mohammad Abdur Rab said at a press conference on Sunday.
Other candidates, who boycotted the election, were Dhaka-10 Jatiya Party candidate Haji Md Shahjahan, Cox's Bazar-4 JaPa candidate Nurul Amin Shikder Bhutto, independent candidate Nurul Bashar, Cumilla-1 Jatiya Party candidate Amir Hossain and independent candidate Barrister Naim Hasan, Narayanganj-2 JaPa candidate Alamgir Sikder Loton, Sylhet-4 Trinamool BNP candidate Md Abul Hossain, Jashore-1 independent candidate Ashraful Alam Liton, Cumilla-11 independent candidate Mizanur Rahman, Cox's Bazar-1 independent candidate Jafar Alam, Bagerhat-4 independent candidate Md Jamil Hossain, Lalmonirhat-2 Jatiya Party candidate Delwar Hossain and Shariatpur-2 Jatiya Party candidate Md Wahidur Rahman.
JaPa candidate Alamgir Sikder Loton at a press conference said, "We have taken decision to boycott the election as we had been receiving reports of my polling agents being expelled from various centres since the morning. At 10am, we found that two agents representing the boat and eagle symbols were casting fake votes at the Ramchandradi Government Primary School centre. We protested but the AL supporters attacked us and also police fired rubber bullets leaving two of my supporters injured.”
“We cannot contest when there is no voting environment. So I boycotted the election,” he said.
In Narayanganj-2, a conflict erupted between the supporters of AL candidate Nazrul Islam Babu and JaPa candidate Alamgir Sikder Loton over allegations of fake voting.
Two people were injured as police intervened and fired rubber bullets during the clash. Nazrul Islam's chief election agent and municipal Mayor, Sundar Ali, however, denied such allegations.
Regarding the allegations of fake voting, District Returning Officer Mahmudul Haq said, "Alleging fake voting, supporters of Alamgir Sikder Loton and his brother Jahangir Sikder Jhoton vandalised the centre and the ballot boxes. Police fired rubber bullets to control the situation, and voting at that centre has now been suspended. The administration has detained ten individuals from the scene."
Ashraful Alam Liton, an independent candidate for Jashore-1 constituency, said, “My wife and I were prevented to enter the polling centre. Even at least 150 of our activists have been injured. In such circumstances, I do not want such an election.”
Jatiya Party candidate Delwar Hossain of Lalmonirhat-2 seat (Aditmari-Kaliganj) said, “I boycotted the election as there were many incidents like poll rigging, utilisation of muscle power, and hindrances to voters reaching the centres.”
