12 candidates boycott election alleging overnight voting in Rangamati

12 candidates have boycotted the voting in Baghaichhari, Naniarchar and Kaukhali upazila council elections of Rangamati district over allegation of overnight voting. Of them there are five chairman post candidates and seven vice chairman post candidates.

Boycotting the voting they have appealed for suspending the election.

Raising allegation of overnight voting and hindering the center bound voters to go, Chattogram Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) nominated chairman candidate Bararishi Chakma and three vice chairman candidates declared their decision of vote boycott after one hour of beginning of voting at Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati district. Here two influential leaders of JSS factional Bararishi Chakma and former chairman Sudarshan Chakma faced each other for the chairman post.

The current chairman and candidate of this election Bararishi Chakma boycotted the vote and said, voting took place overnight in some centers by threatening through showing arms. My supporters and voters were forced not to come to the vote centers.

He said, I have declared vote boycott as huge number of outsiders and armed workers of JSS (MN Larma) took position in the area and did voting terrorism but the administration did not take any step. Along with me other three vice chairman candidates also boycotted the election.

In Naniarchar chairman candidate Rupam Dewan alleged saying, overnight voting took place in most of the centers and in the day we even our voters could not enter the centers. So it is meaningless to remain in election. In that case three chairman candidates including me and four vice chairman candidates decided to stand away from the election.

He said that chairman candidates Jontina Chakma and Panchanan Chakma boycotted the election. The vice chairman candidates who boycotted the election are Rana Bikash Chakma, Sujit Talukder, women vice chairman candidates Kuality Chakma and Konica Chakma.

Meanwhile, in Kaukhali upazila council election JSS nominated candidate Arjun Moni Chakma stood away from election. He declared his decision to boycott the election at around 11:30 am. Awami League candidate Shamsuddoha and JSS candidate Arjun Moni Chakma were in the election run but Arjun Moni boycotted the election.     

Naniarchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Masud Parvez Majumder said, three chairman and four vice chairman candidates have submitted an application for suspending the election. I have informed the Returning Officer about the matter.

AH