Once again the BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami took the lead in the second phase of elections to 114 upazila parishads amid allegation of ballot stuffing by the ruling party.
The opposition bagged more chairman posts, vice-chairmen and reserved vice-chairman posts for women in the elections held on February 27.
According to the unofficial results of the second phase elections the BNP-Jamaat backed contenders bagged 66 male vice-chairman posts while Awami League-blessed aspirants got 33.
In the first phase elections, in male vice-chairman posts BNP-backed contenders secured 34, Awami League 27, Jamaat 21, JaPa four and others 10.
In the reserved female vice-chairman posts Awami League-backed candidates secured 36, BNP 38, Jamaat 9, JaPa four and others 9.
Just two months into the national elections, the Awami League-backed contenders had to face rejection in many upazilas.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance boycotted the national polls held on January 5 demanding elections under a non-partisan government as they claimed free and fair election is not possible under a partisan government.
This walkover gave the Awami League two third easy majority in the parliament.
But just after two months of the national polls all the political parties unofficially participated in the upazila polls.
The BNP-backed contenders alone bagged 34 vice-chairman posts while Jamaat-backed candidates secured 32.
Apart from these, five independent contenders, two Jatiya Party, two Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, one each from Khelafat Majlish, Islamic Front, PCJSS and UPDF won male vice-chairman post.
In the second phase elections to 115 upazilas in 52 districts BNP-blessed aspirants bagged 52 chairmen posts, Awami League 45, Jamaat eight and JaPa one.
Each of the 115 upazila parishads has two vice-chairmen posts including one reserved for women.
In the female reserved vice-chairman posts BNP-Jamaat-backed contenders bagged 70 posts, Awami League-backed candidates secured 33 while six went to independent contenders, two to JaPa and one to the UPDF.
The BNP-backed candidates all three posts of chairmen and vice-chairmen in 41 upazilas while Awami League ensured full panel in 19 upazilas. Apart from these two parties, Jamaat alone secured full panel in Lohagara of Chittagong and the UPDF in Lakkhichari of Khagrachari.
According to the election commission officials, some 62% votes were cast in the second phase of upazila polls marred by violence in many places leading to postponement of voting and allegations of ballot box snatching in different upazilas.
“We have drafted the voter turnout percentage. It is about 62%. We can give the exact figure tomorrow (today),” Ashfaqur Rahman, assistant secretary of the election commission, told the Dhaka tribune yesterday.