Thirty-six municipal mayor candidates of different political parties, including one from the ruling Awami League, pulled out of the electoral race yesterday alleging vote rigging by AL men and use of influence by local administrations.

They also complained that many polling agents were forced out of booths by the ruling party men.

A total of 49 mayor hopefuls boycotted the polls. Of them, one belongs to the AL, 29 to the BNP and three each to Jatiya Party and Islami Shashantantra Andolan while eight are AL rebels, four independents and one is BNP rebel.

However, a few BNP candidates demanded fresh elections in their municipalities.

The AL's Kamrul Ahsan Moharaj in Barguna Sadar Municipality alleged that the local administration did not "cooperate" with him and favoured the AL rebel candidate.

Moharaj and seven others were bullet-hit in a clash between some AL men and law enforcers.

In Chittagong, BNP mayor aspirants Azmat Ullah Bahadur in Sandwip municipality, Abdullah Al Hasan in Raozan and Mohammad Helal Uddin Khan in Rangunia boycotted the polls. They alleged that the ruling party men took control of many polling centres and ousted their polling agents from there.

BNP mayor hopeful in Mirsarai municipality Mainuddin Liton demanded re-election.

The party's mayor nominees in Raipur of Lakshmipur, Akhaura in Brahmanbaria, Madhupur and Gopalpur in Tangail, Borhanuddin and Doulat Khan in Bhola, Madhabdi, Monohardi and Narsingdi Sadar in Narsingdi, Iswardi in Pabna, Kalai in Joypurhat, Bhairab and Bajitpur in Kishoreganj, Kalia in Narail, Harinakunda in Jhenidah, Pangsha in Rajbari, Kalapara in Patuakhali, Swarupkathi in Pirojpur, Magura Sadar, Abhoynagar, Monirampur, Bagharpara, Chougachha, Keshabpur and Jessore sadar in Jessore either quit the polls race or demanded re-polling.

Besides, BNP rebel Anisur Rahman Talukder of Kalai in Joypurhat boycotted the election.

AL rebel mayor hopefuls in Dewanganj of Jamalpur, Shahjadpur of Sirajganj, Dhamrai of Dhaka, Narsingdi Sadar, Kalia of Narail, Munshiganj Sadar, Kumarkhali of Kushtia and Bajitpur of Kishoreganj withdrew from the polls race.

Jatiya Party candidates in Jamalpur Sadar, Gobindaganj of Gaibandha and Kuakata of Patuakhali stayed away from the polls.