Massive AL win in 'marred' polls .............

The Election Commission on Friday made available results of 412 of the 475 Upazila polled on Thursday without any political banner.

Political hues of most winning candidates were not clear, but those confirmed show a massive victory for ruling Awami League-backed candidates who have run away with nearly two-thirds of the local bodies, according to our correspondents.

Of the 379 Upazila called, at least 242 chairman posts went to the AL-backed candidates, the correspondents report.

BNP-backed candidates had won just 71chairman seats, Jamaat-e-Islami 20, Jatiya Party 13, Communist Party of Bangladesh two, Workers' Party and Zaker Party one each, independents 11 and others 13, in results gathered from local polls officials on Friday.

Some TV stations aired results of 464 Upazila which said AL-blessed leaders won 307 chairman posts, BNP-supported ones 83, Jamaat-e-Islami 20, Jatiya Party 15, JSD six, CHT-based UPDF three, Liberal Democratic Party and Workers' Party two each, and independent candidates 21.

The outcome reflected AL's landslide victory in the Dec. 29 general election but the balloting saw low turnout, sporadic violence and alleged attempts by ruling party MPs and ministers to influence the proceedings.
The outcome reflected AL's landslide victory in the Dec. 29 general election but the balloting saw low turnout, sporadic violence and alleged attempts by ruling party MPs and ministers to influence the proceedings.
Friday.