The ruling Awami League-nominated candidates have taken the lead in the second phase of the municipality polls held in 60 different municipal bodies on Saturday amid reports of violence, irregularities, and election boycotts.
The ruling party candidates secured victory in at least five out of seven municipalities where results were declared.
In Basurhat municipality of Noakhali, Awami League-backed candidate Md Abdul Quader Mirza, the younger brother of Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, has been unofficially declared mayor.
Mirza bagged 10,738 votes in the polls while his rival BNP-nominated candidate Kamal Uddin Chowdhury got 1,778 votes. Independent candidate (Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-backed) Mosharraf Hossain secured 1,451 votes.
In Bagerhat, Awami League-nominated candidate Sheikh Abdur Rahman won the mayoral race in Mongla port municipality elections, bagging 11,588 votes.
BNP-nominated mayoral candidate Zulfiqar Ali, who along with 12 other ward councillor aspirants boycotted the polls, got 582 votes.
In Narsingdi, Awami League candidate Mohammad Aminur Rashid Sujan has been elected mayor unofficially in the Monohardi municipality polls.
He secured 8,882 votes while his rival BNP candidate Mahmudul Haq got 585 votes.
In Jhenaidah, Awami League aspirant Kazi Ashraful Azam bagged 10,887 votes and won the mayoral race in Shailkupa municipality elections.
Independent candidate Toyebur Rahman Khan secured 7,281 votes.
In Gazipur, Awami League candidate Anisur Rahman has been elected mayor for the fourth consecutive term in Sripur municipality polls.
Anisur, also the organizing secretary of Gazipur district unit Awami League, bagged 23,486 votes and his nearest rival BNP candidate Advocate Kazi Khan got 10,096 votes.
In Chandina municipality of Comilla, Awami League-nominated aspirant Md Shawkat Hossain Bhuiyan won the mayoral race.
In Moulvibazar, Awami League candidates Sipar Uddin Ahmad and Md Jewel Ahmad won the elections in Kulaura and Kamolganj municipalities respectively.
In Rajshahi, two Awami League-nominated candidates and another rebel candidate of the ruling party won the polls in three municipalities.
Abdul Malek became the mayor-elect of Bhabaniganj municipality in Bagmara upazila while AKM Ataur Rahman Khan has been declared mayor unofficially in Kakanhat municipality of Godagari upazila.
Rebel candidate Mukter Ali won the polls in Arani municipality of Bagha upazila.
In Dinajpur, Awami League candidate Akkas Ali has become the mayor-elect in Birampur municipality elections.
In Gangni municipality of Meherpur, Awami League aspirant Ahmed Ali has been declared mayor unofficially in the elections.
Earlier, four other mayoral candidates boycotted the polls bringing allegations of various irregularities.
In Pabna, Awami League aspirants KM Kamruzzaman Majed, Mahbubul Alam Bachchu, and Ishak Ali Malitha won the polls in Faridpur, Santhia, and Ishwardi municipalities respectively.
Besides, Golam Hasnayen Russel, mayoral candidate of the ruling party, has been elected unopposed in Bhangura municipality elections.
In Naogaon, Awami League-backed candidate Rezaul Kabir Chowdhury won the Nazipur municipality elections.
He bagged 7,685 votes while his nearest rival BNP candidate Anwar Hossain got 5,150 votes.
