At least eight people were killed and several hundred were injured as violence, stuffing of the ballot box and capture of polling stations and intimidation mostly by ruling Awami League activists marred the second phase of the maiden partisan elections to union parishads on Thuirsday.
Three people were killed in Chittagong and a hawker was shot dead in Jessore in clashes between supporters of chairman candidates of AL and AL rebels, a minor boy was shot dead at Keraniganj as AL activists went to capture a polling station, a man was killed as supporters of two member candidates clashed in Jamalpur and an AL activist was shot dead by police while trying to snatch ballot box in Madaripur while a woman was killed in an attack on a victory procession by supporters of defeated member candidate in Manikganj.
Reports from districts said that supporters of the ruling AL candidates, AL rebels and Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidates clashed throughout the day as local administrations in most cases reportedly showed indifference to violence and irregularities at many of the 693 unions that went to the polls.
Many of the polling centres were allegedly captured by AL activists who stuffed the ballot boxes or forced voters to cast their vote in favour of AL candidates, witnesses said.
The Awami League claimed that the polling was held in a festive mood, but BNP complained about large-scale rigging.
Chief election commissioner Rakibuddin Ahmad claimed that the polling was ‘free and fair barring several stray incidents.’
Election watchdog Brotee, in its preliminary observation, said, ‘Many supporters of ruling party candidates were found in the polling booths. Ballot snatching and casting vote at whims using arms and terrorising voters and election officials were found at some centres.’
The report said, ‘In many centres, ballot papers for chairman candidates were taken away from voters and stamped in favour of particular candidates. Incidents like capture of polling stations and attack on election officials were also found.’
Polls at 33 polling centres were suspended because of irregularities and clashes, said the chief election commissioner.
At least 51 chairman candidates including 46 from BNP boycotted the polls halfway through alleging widespread irregularities, including stuffing of the ballot box capturing the centres by AL activists.
Law enforcers at places had to fire bullets to control the situation, but at most of the places members of law enforcement agencies were found indifferent to the capture of polling stations, reported New Age correspondents from districts.
AL activists captured many polling stations at about 55 unions as the polling began at 8:00am without presence of polling agents of the BNP candidates at many polling stations.
In capital’s outskirt Keraniganj, Class IV student of Madhurchar Government Primary School at Hazratpur union Shuvo Kazi, son of Halim Kazi, was shot by AL activists at about 10:00am.
The family said that Shubho went to Madhurchar Government Primary School polling centre with the family.
‘Gun-toting AL activists entered the polling centre and opened fire…My son was shot in the belly,’ said Halim.
Keraniganj police officer-in-charge Ferdous Hassain said that Shuvo died in clash between two chairman candidates from AL and BNP.
At Sandwip of Chittagong, three people – Sanaullah, 30, Ibrahim, 45 and Jamal, 35, – were killed and at least four were injured in a gunfight between the supporters of AL chairman candidate and AL rebel candidate at a polling centre of Bauria union.
Chittagong additional superintendent of police (north) Mostafizur Rahman said that the three were killed in clash between two candidates. He said police fired several bullets.
Local people said that the clash between supporters of AL candidate Jamal Uddin and AL rebel candidate Zillur Rahman at Char Bauria Government Primary School centre erupted about 3:30pm, when gun-toting and stick-wielding supporters of Zillur tried to capture the polling station.
In Jessore, a hawker named Abdus Sattar, 75, was killed when supporters of two member candidates backed by AL and its rebel exchanged bullets and hurled crude bombs at Bhaturia Government Primary School centre of Chansra union.
Jessore superintendent of police Anisur Rahman said that the police had to fire 10 birdshots calm the situation.
In Jamalpur, Rafiqul Islam, 50, was beaten to death as supporters of member candidate Muksed Ali clashed with rival candidate Marjina Begum over casting false votes at Uttar Baluchar Government Primary School polling centre of Shyampur union of Melandaha at about 11:15am.
Melandaha police officer-in-charge Nasimul Islam, however, claimed that Rafiqul died of cardiac arrest while waiting in a long queue for casting vote.
A supporter of AL candidate was shot dead by police while he was trying to snatch ballot boxes during counting of ballots at Dakkhin Birangal Government Primary School centre at Dhurail union under Madaripur sadar upazila.
Locals said and cops said that sensing defeat of AL candidate Mahbubur Rahman, his supporter Sujan Mridha grabbed a ballot box and tried to snatch it, prompting police to open fire. Sujan was declared dead when he was sent to Sadar Hospital. AL rebel Mujibur Rahman won the election.
Madaripur superintendent of police Sanwar Hossain confirmed the death saying that the man was killed in election violence.
In Manikganj, a woman, Nomesa Begum, was killed as supporters of defeated member candidate Tota Pordhan attacked a victory procession brought out by supporters of Shipon Ali at Ragutia village under Daulatpur upazila, said Daulatpur police officer-in-charge Nazmul Nishat.
A clash between supporters of AL candidate and its rebel candidate at Janata bazaar of Rajapur union under Bhola Sadar killed Nasir Sarder, on Wednesday night.
Bhola Sadar police officer-in-charge Mir Khairul Kabir said Nasir was killed in clash between two chairman candidates.
The incidents took to 36 the number of people killed in violence centring union elections. First phase of the six-phase elections were held on March 22 and third phase elections would be held on April 23.
Police detained presiding officer Rafiqul Islam and assistant presiding officer Ishrat Jahan of Bijoynagar Government Primary School polling centre of Kashimpur union and assistant presiding officer Sheikh Abdullah Bin Akbar of Churamankati Government Primary School centre of Churamankathi union under Jessore Sadar upazila on allegation of facilitating rigging in favour of AL candidates.
District election officer Tareq Ahmed confirmed the matter and refused to make further comments.
In Bhola, at least 20 people were injured including private television NTV district correspondent as police opened fire when supporters of AL rebel candidate Mithu Chowdhury attacked supporters of AL candidate Mizanur Rahman, who laid siege to Rajapur Government Primary School centre.
Bhola sadar police officer-in-charge Khairul Kabir said police fired 20 bullets, leaving at least 20 injured including NTV Bhola correspondent Afzal Hossain.
At Harishpur union of Sandwip, AL candidate Abdul Hannan Rana, his son Kader and brother Hanif received bullet injuries as miscreants opened fire targeting them. They were rushed to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.
In Munshiganj, at least 10 people including two ansars were injured in a bomb blast and police firing at Patabhog union and Kukutia union of Srinagar upazila.
Munshiganj superintendent of police Biplab Bijoy Talukder confirmed the news.
In Madaripur, eight people were injured as supporters of AL candidate and AL rebel candidate clashed at Kuntipara polling centre of sadar upazila in the morning.
In Kushtia, three people were injured as supporters of AL candidate and AL rebel candidate clashed at Aria Government Primary School centre of Aria union under Daulatpur upazila. Presiding officer Amzad Hossain said the clash triggered suspension of polls.
Clash between AL candidate Abu Yousuf and independent candidate Ashraful Islam at Allahardarga School centre of Pearpur union under same upazila left five injured.
Supporters of AL chairman candidate for Kaukola union of Sirajganj sadar upazila Abdul Alim Bhuiyan snatched at least 1,000 ballot papers from Baro Koira Community Clinic centre triggering clash between AL and BNP activists that left several people injured.
Presiding officer Jahangir Alam said that he suspended polls at the centre as 1,000 out of the 1,470 papers were snatched by arms unidentified miscreants.
Police fired at least 20 birdshots to control the situation.
Supporters of AL candidate Haidar Ali of Bahauli Union under same upazila allegedly snatched 200 ballot papers from Dhitpur Alal centre. Presiding officer Rokunuzzman said the incident took place in presence of police. On duty police sub-inspector Abdul Malek said they rushed there but failed to recover the ballot papers.
Two people were injured as police open fire to disperse supporters of AL and BNP candidates, who were clashing at Dhanpur Government Primary School centre of Dakkhin Kurma union under Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj.
Locals said that the clash erupted when BNP men tried to resist AL men from casting false votes. Sunamganj superintendent of police Harun ur Rashid said police fired birdshots.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a briefing alleged, ‘Stuffing of the ballot box, snatching of ballot papers and boxes by AL “terrorists” with the help of administration and police took place at almost all polling centres.’
Rizvi held the Election Commission responsible for killings that took place during election and said, ‘The EC is enemy of democracy and people would besiege EC soon.’
AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif claimed that the election was held in free and fair manner with festivity. BNP spreading falsehood to make the election questionable, he added.
Source: New Age