BNP's Polls Boycott 
Diplomatic Correspondent
The United States Embassy and the British High Commission in separate statements expressed disappointment over Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) decision to boycott the three city polls in Dhaka and Chittagong partway through voting on Tuesday.
The envoys of the United States and the UK urged all parties involved to work within the law and avoid violence at all costs. They expressed the hope that political disruption should not happen in Dhaka and Chittagong over the next few days.
"We condemn in the strongest terms any use of violence for political objectives," the US embassy statement said.
In the statement, the US Embassy expressed disappointment over "widespread, first-hand, and credible reports of vote-rigging, intimidation and violence that have occurred at polling stations."
The US Embassy further said that the irregularities should be investigated transparently and impartially.
The British High Commissioner Robert Gibson in a press statement said, "It will be important that all allegations of irregularity are investigated swiftly and impartially".
He urged those candidates who are successful in being elected should seek to serve the needs and wishes of all the voters in both the cities.
Gibson expressed the hope that the BNP's poll boycott decision should not result in violence or disruption in Dhaka and Chittagong over the next few days.
Earlier on the day, the British envoy after visiting some polling centres in Dhaka city, told the media that he was satisfied over the peaceful polling.