By Mainul Islam Khan
DHAKA, Bangladesh
The U.S. and U.K. envoys to Bangladesh have urged political parties to avoid violence after voting in city polls was disrupted on Tuesday.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party withdrew from the elections, in the capital Dhaka and port city Chittagong, claiming there had been mass vote rigging.
The run-up to the city polls had become the latest political battleground between the opposition and ruling Awami League, after three months of deadly political violence between the two parties.
"We are disappointed by widespread, first-hand, and credible reports of vote-rigging, intimidation and violence that have occurred at polling stations today, and the BNP’s decision to boycott the city corporation polls," said a statement released by the U.S. embassy in Dhaka.
U.S. Ambassador Marcia Bernicat had earlier reacted to opposition's withdrawal by posting on Twitter: "Winning at any cost is no victory at all."
Similarly, the British High Commission released a statement urging the political parties "ensure that their response to today’s events remains within the law."
"The responsibility remains with all parties, the Election Commission, and law enforcement agencies, to ensure that elections can take place in an ordered atmosphere to allow all voters the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights," the statement said.
Moudud Ahmed, a leader in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, told reporters the election had become "farcical" and "meaningless."
"This is not called voting, so we reject this voterless election," he said.
He had earlier warned that if his party faced intimidation, they could reignite the campaign of strikes and blockades that marked the first three months of 2015.
The ruling Awami League promptly responded to the allegations of vote rigging, claiming the boycott was a ploy by the opposition.
"[Opposition leader] Khaleda Zia had this plan beforehand to boycott the election, she knew she would lose the poll. She had no intention to participate in the election," said Mahbubul Alam Hanif, the joint-General Secretary of the Awami League.
He also accused Zia of organizing herself three attacks on her motorcade during campaigning last week.
Earlier, Anadolu Agency's reporter found scuffles breaking out between supporters of the rival political parties outside a polling center in Dhaka, where voters claimed they were being refused because ballot papers had run out.
There had been reports of attacks on polling centers and attempts to stuff ballot boxes with ballot papers, though it could not be confirmed which parties were responsible.
Security had been tightened for the election with extra security forces deployed and vehicles banned from operating within the cities until midnight Tuesday.
The opposition leader Khaleda Zia had urged voters on Sunday to use the elections as "silent revenge."
Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted January 2014 elections, claiming that they feared electoral fraud, but the election still went ahead.
Her party renewed their complaints and demanded a new election on Jan. 5, the disputed election's first anniversary, sparking a three-month period of political violence that saw more than 140 people killed and the country brought to a standstill.
Ali Riaz, Professor of Politics and Government at the U.S.-based Illinois State University, had earlier said that the elections had "assumed national prominence due to the current political situation."
"These elections are tests for the Election Commission and the ruling party that fair elections of national significance can be held under the incumbent government -- if all parties participate," he said. "If the ruling party tries to manipulate the results in any fashion -- it will not only be unfortunate but the nation may return to the days of mayhem. On the contrary, a fair and participatory election will boost its moral standing."
