Incidents of violence, alleged vote manipulation attempts, arrests, and arms recoveries were reported from various parts of the country yesterday, on the eve of national election and referendum.
In Dhaka, police arrested Md Habib, nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaat’s Sutrapur thana unit, over buying votes.
Nazim Uddin Al Azad, additional deputy commissioner of Lalbagh division, told The Daily Star that a mobile court sent him to jail for two days.
In another incident, Mohaiminul, inspector (investigation) of Sutrapur Police Station, said a presiding officer was distributing IDsto polling agents when some BNP activists tried to obstruct the process. “Later, army and BGB personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.”
Earlier, a scuffle broke out between female activists of BNP and Jamaat in the Korail slum under Banani Police Station, injuring a Jamaat activist.
Banani Police Station OC Khalid Monsur told The Daily Star, “Female activists of Jamaat were holding a discussion with their polling agents. Hearing it, some female supporters of BNP went there to obstruct them, leading to a scuffle.”
“However, we have not received any written complaint yet. Action will be taken if a complaint is lodged,” he added.
In Chattogram’s Raozan, an armed group opened fire at the house of BNP activist Rustam Ali in Kadalpur union yesterday morning, but no casualties were reported.
Balayat Hossen, assistant superintendent of police (Rangunia circle), told this newspaper that the gunmen fled to a nearby hilly hideout when police and army personnel reached the spot at Shamser Para. “Initial findings suggest the incident took place over previous enmity and was not related to political issues,” he said, adding that joint force patrols have been intensified.
In a statement, Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury, the BNP candidate for Chattogram-6, said criminals were attempting to disrupt the election atmosphere by intimidating voters.
In Narayanganj’s Sonargaon, Iqbal Hossain Bhuiyan, the Jamaat nominee for Narayanganj-3, alleged that BNP activists vandalised the house of ward-level Jamaat leader Osman Gani in Sonmandi Union.
He claimed that Gani was injured in the attack. BNP candidate’s son-in-law, Md Masum, is as one of the assailants, he said.
Sonargaon Police Station OC Md Mohibullah said officials were investigating the incident.
BNP candidate Azharul Islam Mannan denied the allegation, saying, “Jamaat activists were caught by locals while distributing money to voters in at least two places in Sonmandi union. Later, police detained them.”
In Rajshahi’s Charghat, a helmeted attacker hacked BNP activist Biraj Ali, 47, in Ramchandrapur. Biraj, who runs a BNP election office, was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
He blamed Jamaat-Shibir men for the attack, an allegation denied by Charghat Jamaat Secretary Ayub Ali.
In Munshiganj Sadar upazila, at least three people were injured as supporters of BNP and an independent candidate clashed near the Purbarakhi Government Primary School centre.
Sadar Police Station OC Mominul Islam, however, said the reason behind the clash could not be known immediately.
In Munshiganj-3, BNP rebel candidate Md Mohiuddin is contesting against the party’s nominee, Md Kamruzzaman.
Meanwhile, joint force operations led to several arrests and arms recoveries.
During a raid, the forces arrested former UP chairman Md Mostafizur Rahman and his wife Ruma Akter in Shariatpur’s Jajira and recovered locally made weapons and cash from their houses.
In Feni, army personnel recovered a foreign pistol and four magazines from a cattle farm linked to a Jubo Dal leader in Hakdi village. Officials said the seized items would be handed over to the Feni Model Police Station.
Our Chattogram, Narayanganj, Rajshahi, Munshiganj and Cumilla correspondents contributed to this report.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/national-election-2026/news/violence-vote-manipulation-allegations-surface-eve-polls-4104156
