Two makeshift election campaign camps of the local BNP candidate in Meherpur have been vandalised.

BNP candidate of Meherpur-2 constituency, Javed Masud Milton blamed ruling Awami League for it, our Kushtia correspondent reports.

He alleged, ruling party activists led by local UP Member Liton Hosen vandalized two of his election camps in Chatian and Bamundi areas.

He claimed, he did not get any help from police or the returning officer of the area to this end.

UP Member Liton has denied his involvement and said he did not know who were behind the attacks.

Shukumar Biswas, officer-in-charge of Gangni Police Station, said that nobody filed any complaint over the incidents.

The Election Commission yesterday decided to hold re-elections in three polling centres of Brahmanbaria-2 on January 9, as the polls there were suspended on Sunday.

In a notice, signed by EC Joint Secretary Forhad Ahammad Khan, the commission said that elections in three of the 76 polling centres were suspended following deterioration of law and order during Sunday's national election.

The centres were at Jatrapur Governmnet Primary School, Bahadurpur Governmnet Primary School and Sohagpur Governmnet Primary School.

During voting hours on Sunday, supporters of two candidates were locked in a heated argument after which voting was suspended in the three centres. The incident occurred around 11:00am.

EC officials said that the BNP candidate Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan was leading the polls in the constituency with 82,723 votes while independent candidate Moyeen Uddin bagged 72,564 votes.

The number of voters of the three centres was 10, 572, while the total number of voters in the constituency was 214,039.

The Daily Star is launching a new series of talk show ‘The Election Talks 2018’ where experts will be analysing all aspects of the upcoming general elections, contemporary politics, events and incidents.

In today’s episode Dr. Shahdeen Malik, Advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court, talks with the show host Shakhawat Liton, planning editor of The Daily Star.

Ruling Awami League activists in Cumilla today flexed their muscles to release a party man from the custody of local police just two days ahead of election.

Over a hundred men of the party surrounded a local police station to free one of the supporters after the latter was detained, our local correspondent reports.

Awami League activist Syed Raihan was detained around 2:00pm by Cumilla Kotwali Police for reasons not ascertained, according to local police sources.

Awami League activist Syed Raihan. Photo: Collected

AKM Bahauddin, current lawmaker from Awami League for Cumilla-6 and a candidate of the seat in the election, went to the police station hearing the news.

Bahauddin went inside and talked with the officer-in-charge, and after a short while, Raihan was released without further ado.

Asked about it, Abu Salam Mia, officer-in-charge of the police station, told The Daily Star: “The detention was made out of a misunderstanding. He did nothing wrong.”

AL supporters took positions on both sides of the police station road. Photo: Star

Seeking anonymity, some local Awami League activists told The Daily Star that Raihan was a member of a rival group of the party, but switched sides recently to work for MP Bahauddin.

Tariqur Rahman Jewel, general secretary of Cumilla Sadar Awami League, told The Daily Star: “Since there were no cases against him, our lawmaker went to the police station to get him out so that he is not harassed without reason.”

Expressing concern over alleged harassment, intimidation and electoral irregularities in the December 30 election, Norway has called for a transparent investigation into the allegations.

“Norway is concerned about credible reports of harassment and intimidation, as well as the presence of serious obstacles to a level playing field throughout the election process. We deplore the violence and tragic loss of life during the campaigning period and on election day,” said Marianne Hagen, state secretary at foreign affairs ministry.

“Given the significant number of claims of irregularities, it is essential that these are investigated fully and transparently by the proper authorities.”

In a statement on Thursday, she said Norway commends the many Bangladeshis who exercised their democratic right to vote on election day, and welcomes the opposition's decision to contest the election for the first time in 10 years.

Hagen added, “Our countries' good and longstanding relations are based on mutual respect and the pursuit of common interests.

“Norway will continue to work with the government and the opposition, as well as other stakeholders, to further advance the democratic and economic development of Bangladesh.”