The authorities have increased both filing criminal cases and arrests of troublemakers to bring down electoral violence involving the ruling Awami League or the party-backed independent candidates across bangladesh in the run-up to the January 7 general election.
Apart from the criminal cases and arrests, the authorities continued issuing warning or awarding monetary fines to the candidates and their campaigners or supporters for breaching electoral codes.
At least 184 criminal cases were filed and 215 people, mostly from ruling Awami League or its supporters, were arrested in December 18–29, while the number of cases increased to 213 and arrests to 235 on the following day.
The number of arrests and cases filed on December 31has yet to be finalised, according to the police headquarters.
‘A troublemaker definitely thinks twice after a criminal case is lodged against him or her. We are showing zero tolerance in applying criminal charges in connection with the electoral violence as long as we want a peaceful election,’ police headquarters deputy inspector general of police (operations) Md Anwar Hossain told New Age. He said ‘stern actions’ started working.
The home ministry’s election monitoring cell received 511 complaints related to electoral violence or breach of code between December 19 morning and January 1 afternoon across the country.
The number was 268 between December 19 morning and December 27 afternoon after the home ministry on December 18 set up the law and order coordination cell and started receiving complaints on the following day.
Of those complaints received through 999 National Emergency Service, the ministry officials said that they were able to respond or react to 508 complaints, while three other complaints pending action, according to an official at home ministry.
Of the complaints, the home ministry officials tagged 416 incidents as ‘important case’, while 89 others as ‘very important case’ and the rest six as ‘very very important incident.’
The home ministry officials said that the complaints included tearing of posters, obstructing electioneering activities or attacks on the rivals.
An internal police document, updated until December 31, showed that a total of 692 incidents of electoral violence and breaching of electoral code were reported in the past one month. Most electoral incidents, reported in over 50 districts in December 18–31, took place between sunset and sunrise, according to the document.
At least 210 incidents of monetary fines and 68 cases of warning were documented, according to the police document.
New Age correspondent in Barishal reported on Monday that miscreants vandalised the election campaigning office of independent candidate for Barishal-4 (Hizla-Mehendiganj) Pankaj Nath, also the incumbent AL lawmaker, with Eagle symbol in Mehendiganj, Barishal.
Mehendiganj police officer-in-charge Yasinul Haque said that they have received verbal complaint.
New Age correspondent in Rajshahi reported an electoral camp of AL-independent candidate for Chapainawabganj-1 (Shibganj) constituency Sayed Nazrul Islam was set on fire at Mahila Bazar area in Shibganj upazila early Monday.
Shibganj police officer-in-charge Sazzad Hossain said that they were investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, miscreants reportedly set an electoral camp of AL-nominated candidate for Natore-2 (sadar) constituency Shahfiqul Islam Shimul on fire at Ghorgachha Chowmuhani area in the city early Monday.
Natore Sadar police officer-in-charge Mizanur Rahman said that they did not receive any written complaint.
In Bogura, the police arrested an AL leader for attacking a supporter of independent candidate for Bogura-1 (Sariakandi-Sonatola) constituency KSM Mostafizur Rahman on Sunday night. At least four people were killed in pre-election violence while the police said that at least 400 others were injured in a month.
New Age
