UP POLLS 1ST PHASE : Nomination filing ends amid violence [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

UP POLLS 1ST PHASE : Nomination filing ends amid violence

Local February 23, 2016

A number of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed chairmen candidates and rebel Awami League were assaulted, and some alleged their nomination papers had been snatched from them, as nomination paper filing for the first phase of Union Parishad elections in 749 union councils drew to a close on Monday.
The first phase of the UP elections is scheduled on March 22, first time under political party participation.
New Age correspondents from different districts reported that many chairmen candidates nominated by Bangladesh Nationalist Party were assaulted while submitting their nomination papers while some aspirants alleged that ruling Awami League activists had snatched their nomination papers.
New Age Satkhira correspondent reported at least eight chairman aspirants failed to submit their nomination papers as the ruling party activists snatched their nomination papers.
The aspirants are — BNP nominated candidate for Koila UP Abdur Rakib, who is also the seating chairman of the UP, Workers Party nominated candidate for the same UP Abdur Raouf, AL rebel candidate for Kushodanga UP Jakir Hossain, AL rebel candidate for Joynagar UP Fazlur Rahman, BNP nominated aspirant for Sonabaria UP Shadidul Islam, also seating chairman of the UP, BNP nominated aspirant for Jugikhali UP Rabiul Islam, also seating chairman of the UP, BNP nominated aspirant for Deara UP Ibrahim Hossain, also seating chairman of the UP, and BNP nominated aspirant for Koralkata UP Zahirul Islam.
They were all assaulted by ruling party men while miscreants also attacked their residents, many victims alleged.
BNP candidates Ibrahim Hossain said the ruling party activists first snatched his wife’s nomination paper on Sunday. Later, they snatched his nomination paper as he went to submit it on Monday.
BNP candidates Sahidul Islam said he was thankful to have gotten away with losing his nomination paper, and not his life.
WP candidate Abdur Raouf claimed ruling party activist snatched his nomination paper near the election office in presence of police who did not act.
Kalaroa upazila election officer Benozer Ahmed, however, claimed he was not aware about the incident and that aspirants had submitted nomination papers ‘peacefully’.
In Jhalakathi, a supporter of AL rebel chairman candidate Afzal Hossain was stabbed, allegedly by ruling party nominated candidate Kamaruzzaman Liton, Sunday night.
The injured Awarabunia UP Chattra League unit join convener M Sibbir was admitted to a local hospital.
In the district on Monday an AL rebel candidate and BNP candidate were assaulted by ruling party activists and reportedly failed to submit their nomination papers.
The Election Commission, however, claimed they did receive any complaints in this regard till now.
EC secretary M Sirajul Islam told New Age that they heard some generalised allegations but no one formally lodged any complaint with the EC, as well as district offices of the commission.
‘There is no procedure to take action against anybody without receiving a complaint,’ he said.
According to the EC, a total of 24 registered political parties submitted letters to the commission saying that the parties were participating in the elections.
They said that the nomination papers will be scrutinised on February 23 and 24.