The second day of electioneering for the January 7 general election on Tuesday was mired by poll code violations and clashes between the ruling Awami League and the party’s independent candidates in different parts of the country.
AL candidates of Dhaka gathered at a ‘victory rally’ organised by the AL in front of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Dhaka on Tuesday, marking the 53rd Victory Day.
The candidates and their supporters joined the rally with colourful posters, placards, and other campaign materials, allegedly in violation of the electoral code of conduct.
At the rally, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader introduced the party’s 19 candidates from Dhaka constituencies and asked city dwellers to ensure the win of candidates contesting with the ‘boat’ symbol.
New Age correspondents reported from various districts that scores of people were injured on Monday night and Tuesday in clashes in different constituencies between supporters of the Awami League or its alliance candidates and independent candidates linked to the party.
In the Jamalpur-4 constituency, at least four people were injured in a chase and counter-chase between the supporters of Awami League candidate Mahbubur Rahman and independent candidate Abdur Rashid, an Awami League leader.
The incident took place in the Sarishabari railway station area around 11:30am on Tuesday.
AL central leader Mahbubur Rahman is contesting the polls as the party’s official candidate, while independent candidate Abdur Rashid is the president of Dhaka’s Tejgaon Thana Awami League and former principal of Tejgaon College.
According to witnesses, Lutfar Rahman, a supporter of Mahbubur Rahman, and Mithu Mia, a supporter of Abdur Rashid, argued on the road in front of Sarishabari railway station at about 11:30am.
At one stage of the argument, more supporters of the two candidates gathered at the place and engaged in a clash.
On receiving the information, police went to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Sarishabari police officer-in-charge Mushfiqur Rahman.
New Age correspondent in Jashore reported that at least 10 activists of Ashraful Alam Liton, an independent candidate for Jashore-1 constituency, came under attack while campaigning at Chhoto Anchra under Benapole Port police station.
Confirming the attack, Liton, the joint secretary of the Jashore district unit of the Awami League, told reporters that terrorists also attacked him, and he survived after taking shelter at a nearby house.
Belal Hossain, additional superintendent of Jashore police, told reporters that, on information, they rushed to the spot and rescued the candidate.
In Mymensingh, a clash took place between the supporters of the Awami League and independent candidates for the Mymensingh-9 constituency over the setting up of an election office.
The incident took place at Chopai Bazar of Mushulli union of Nandail upazila around 11:00 am.
Current AL lawmaker Anwarul Abedin Khan is contesting as an independent candidate after being deprived of the party nomination, which was handed to upazila unit Awami League president Abdus Salam.
New Age correspondent in Pabna reported that allegations had been made against Awami League leaders and activists for obstructing the election campaign of the independent candidate for Pabna-1, Abu Sayeed.
The incident took place around 3:30pm on Tuesday in Bowlmari Bazar under Santhia Upazila of Pabna.
Locals said that Abu Sayeed was giving an interview to journalists at Bowlmari Bazar during the election campaign around 1:30 pm when a boat procession was crossing the area.
The activists from the procession saw Abu Sayeed, started shouting slogans, and surrounded him.
The police took a position between them and asked both sides to leave the place.
Former AL state minister Abu Sayeed slightly moved to take a new position with his supporters, but the supporters of the party’s official candidate, Shamsul Haque Tuku, also the deputy speaker of parliament, kept shouting slogans against him, raising tension.
Santhia municipality mayor Mahbubul Alam, upazila unit vice-chairman Sohel Rana Khokon, and Bera upazila vice-chairman Mejbah Molla allegedly obstructed Abu Sayeed’s campaign and shouted slogans against him.
Santhia upazila nirbahi officer Alpana Yasmin forced both groups to leave the scene two hours later.
Abu Sayeed’s chief election agent and former mayor of Bara municipality, Abdul Baten, said that prime minister Sheikh Hasina had promised to make the election neutral.
‘But you saw today how we were blocked. Is it the normal or neutral environment of the election?’ he asked.
Santhia Upazila Parishad vice chairman Khokon denied the allegation of obstructing the election campaign of Abu Sayeed.
‘They are the ones who obstructed us by placing their car in front of our procession,’ he said.
Earlier on Monday night, at least 20 people were injured in clashes between the supporters of the AL official and its independent candidates in Barishal-2 and Barishal-5 constituencies, while at least 12 were injured in Netrokona-3 constituency.
In Barishal-2, in the presence of Rashed Khan Menon, the candidate of the AL-led alliance, a clash between the two factions took place at the Awami League party office in the Banaripara municipal area.
The incident took place when Workers Party of Bangladesh president Menon, the candidate for the boat symbol in Barishal-2 constituency, was about to start his electioneering.
During the clash between the two parties, the Banaripara municipal unit Awami League president and three others were injured.
Banaripara police station officer-in-charge Mainul Islam said that there was a scuffle between the two parties inside the party office.
Upon receiving the information, the police went to the spot and brought the situation under control, he said.
New Age
