AL, BNP candidates attacked during polls

The second phase of Upazila elections on Thursday were marred by violence in several places, in which chairman candidates also came under attack.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 27 Feb 2014, 09:58 PM
Updated : 27 Feb 2014, 09:58 PM

In Sonaimuri, Noakhali, one man was killed when police opened fire on a group of Jamaat-e-Islami supporters who tried to capture a polling centre.

In several centres, election officials came under attack trying to prevent the hijacking of ballot boxes.

In Fakirhaat, Bagerhat, the Awami League-backed chairman candidate Sardar Niamat Hossain was allegedly physically harassed by members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in front of the Shatshika Government Primary School centre.

Executive Magistrate Ariful Islam, however, said Hossain was detained by BGB men after attacking him physically.

“We had arrested two Awami League supporters for harassing voters. Hossain tried to take them away. He called me names and attacked me. I ordered the BGB men to fire blank shots and detain him.”

Hossain, however, alleged that it was the official who had called him names and ordered the BGB men to beat him up.

In Chaugachha, Jessore, the BNP-backed candidate Jahurul Islam was attacked by supporters of Awami League-backed candidate SM Habib. Jessore police Additional Superintendent (ASP) Reshma Sharmin said Jahurul went to the Government Model Primary School centre following allegations that his polling agents were being forced out of the centre.
Habib's supporters attacked Jahurul when he entered the polling centre. Ekattor Television's Jessore correspondent ‘Farhad’, Daily Prothom Alo photographer Ehsan Mithun, Jewel Mridha of Shomoy Television and local news photographer ‘Porag’ were also injured in the attack.
Police later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.
In Sadar Upazila, Noakhali, unknown assailants blasted several crude bombs outside the Ahmadiya High School centre, then vandalised two ballot boxes and stole the ballot papers. They attacked assistant presiding officers Mamtaz Begum, Shahida Akhter and Abul Hashem.
In Jhikargachha, Jessore, supporters of the Awami League-backed candidate Monirul Islam attacked two centres and tried to hijack ballot papers.
In Baliadangi, Thakurgaon, clashes broke out in three centres between the law enforcers and voters. Army and BGB members attacked voters with sticks while voters threw brick chips at them. District Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Biswas claimed the incident was isolated and the result of a misunderstanding.
In Sadar Upazila, Munshiganj, the BNP-backed chairman candidate Ayat Ali, 50, and his son Mamun Dewan, 25, were stabbed by unknown assailants in front of a polling centre.
Incidents of violence were also reported from Feni, Sathkhira, Kurigram, Sirajganj, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Chandpur, Bhola, Sherpur and Savar.