Upazila election officer injured in Baghaichhari dies

Another election official injured in an attack at Baghaichhari in Rangamati during Upazila council polls last month has died.

Niru Bikash Chakma died at Combined Military Hospital on Monday night, said Hasanuzzaman, a regional election officer in Chattogram.

Ripenju Chakma, president of Baghaichhari Upazila Primary Assistant Teachers Association, also confirmed the news of Niru's death.

The death toll in the Mar 18 attack has reached to eight now.

An office assistant in Baghaichhari High School, Niru was working as a polling officer at Durgom Konglak Government Primary School in Sajek union that day.

The miscreants attacked the election officials as they were returning from the Konglak centre, Machalang Primary School Centre, and Baghaihat Government Primary School Centre.

The assailants attacked the local vehicles known as 'chander gari' carrying the election officials and law enforcement agents at Noymile in the Baghaichhari-Dighinala Road, according to the police and local administration.

The presiding officers, polling officers, police, Ansar and VDP members were returning to Dighinala in three ‘chander gari’ under the supervision of BGB members, said police.

The second vehicle was hit when the miscreants opened fire. The driver quickly manoeuvred the vehicle to Baghaichhari Health Complex. At least six people were found dead when the vehicle reached the health complex. Later, another person died on way to a hospital in Chattogram. 

The dead were Amir Hossain, Abu Taiyab, Montu Chakma, Mihir Kanti Dutta, Al Amin, Bilkis Akhter, and Jahanara Begum.

Among the dead, teacher Amir and Abu Taiyab were polling officers as the others were Ansar and VDP members. Montu Chakma’s details were not found.

At least 11 people injured in the incident were sent to Chattogram by a helicopter and seven among them, including Niru, were brought to Dhaka for better treatment.