Polling centre attacked in Lakshmipur

Opposition activists attacked a polling centre in Lakshmipur injuring a policeman on Sunday.

Besides the policeman, several others sustained bullet injuries in the clash, Lakshmipur's Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shariful Islam said.

The attack took place at the Sadar Upazila's Masumpur High School at around 12:30pm on Sunday, said Presiding Officer Zakir Hossain Munshi.

ASP Islam said, "The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists attacked the police at the Masumpur High School. A Sub-Inspector of police was injured."

Presiding Officer Munshi said, "Activists of the 18-Party alliance led the attack. I called up the Deputy Commissioner and the Upazila Executive Officer but none received the call."

The Opposition has boycotted the polls demanding a non-party government's supervision in the elections and cancelling the poll schedule.

Attacks on polling centres and election officials have intensified since last Thursday. The BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami are mainly blamed for these attacks.

The BNP has threatened to foil the polls.

Presiding Officer Munshi said, "Police opened fire after they had came under attack. We fled from the spot."

The Upazila's BNP unit General Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Bahar claimed an activist of the Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of the Jamaat, had died in the clashes.

He said an activist of the BNP student front was hit by bullets.

Police said several others were also hit by bullets but could not provide details.

ASP Islam said they had no report of any death.

Meanwhile, voting at Ramganj Upazila's Rasulpur Government Primary School, Kawli Government Primary School, Narayanpur Government Primary School, Naniyaparha Government Primary School, and Masumpur High School has been stopped after suspected Opposition activists snatched away ballot papers.