Poll violence kills 4

Four persons have died in violent poll-related clashes during the fourth phase of the Upazila elections.

Shamsuddin Pradhan, 65, Union Parishad Chairman of Baluakandi, was hacked to death during a clash between supporters of Awami League-backed and renegade chairman candidates at Munshiganj’s Gazaria on Sunday morning.

Abdul Hadis, 35, died when BGB opened fire during a scuffle with locals at Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura at around 4pm on Sunday, just when polling was nearing the end.

Ripon Hossain, 24, a Juba League activist died when Awami League and BNP supporters clashed at Jhalakathi’s Razapur Upazila at around the same time.

Monir Hossain, 26, a Juba Dal activist, died as police shot him trying to snatch ballot boxes at Moheshpur Primary School in Comilla’s Borura Upazila.

Munshiganj

District Returning Officer Sarowar Morshed Chowdhury said supporters of Awami League-endorsed chairman aspirant Amirul Islam and rebel candidate Refaet Ullah Khan Tota got into an argument outside the centre at Baluakandi Dr Abdul Gaffar School and College.

The law enforcers stepped in to resolve the issue, he said.

But the supporters of Tota later pounced on Pradhan who was standing in one side of the centre at 11am.

Seriously injured, Pradhan was rushed to the Gazaria health complex where doctors declared him dead, said the returning officer.

Locals say Pradhan was working for Amirul Islam.

Brahmanbaria

Major Arshad, Commander of Sarail BGB 12 Battalion, said a gang of people entered Akhaura’s Targon Government Primary School to snatch ballot boxes when votes were ending at 4pm.

BGB stopped their attempt but the locals retaliated by attacking the border guards prompting them to fire from their weapons, said the Major.

Abdul Hadis was wounded and died while being taken to Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital.

Jhalakathi

Supporters of the Awami League and BNP began fighting over taking hold of polling centres at Razapur Upazila, Nazrul Islam, the OC of Razapur Police, told bdnews24.com.

Juba League activist Ripon Hossain was wounded when his rivals hit him with sharp weapons at 8am. He succumbed to his injuries while being treated at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital at around 4pm, said the OC.

Comilla

Police opened fire on a group of youths who tried to snatch ballot boxes at Mosheshpur primary school polling centre of Borura Upazila at around 3pm.

Shot and wounded, Monir Hossain, son of Mofiz Mia of the Upazila’s Hossainpur village, was rushed to Borura Upazila Health Complex and then shifted to Comilla Medical College and Hospital.

He died there at around 4:30pm, said Rezaur Rashid, the emergency doctor at the Comilla hospital.

Borura Municipality BNP General Secretary Kabir Hossain Patoari said Monir was an activist of his party’s youth wing Jatiyatabdi Juba Dal.