4 killed in violence

The first-ever partisan elections to union parishads, marred by violence, widespread vote rigging and intimidation mostly by ruling Awami League activists, concluded on Saturday with the polling in its sixth phase amidst violence that killed at least four people.
Many polling centres were allegedly captured by AL activists who reportedly stuffed the ballot boxes or forced voters to cast their vote for AL candidates as they had done in the previous five phases of the maiden partisan elections to the lowest tier of the local government institutions, witnesses said.
The killing of the three took to 119 the number of people killed in electoral violence since the announcement of the schedule of the union parishad polls in February.
Electoral violence on the poling day killed 10 people in the first phase, nine in the second phase, one in the third phase, two in the fourth phase and 10 in the fifth phase of the staggered elections.
Chief election commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, however, claimed that the overall position of election was fair except some stray incidents of ‘violence and irregularities.’
Polls at 35 polling centres were suspended because of irregularities and clashes on Saturday, he said.
Three people were killed in clashes between supporters of member candidates in Noakhali, Feni and Mymensing.
New Age correspondents in districts reported that supporters of AL candidates, AL rebels and Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidates clashed throughout the day in Chittagong, Noakhali, Brahmanbarhia, Tangail, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Bogra and Rangpur and others districts, as local administrations, in most cases, reportedly showed indifference to violence and irregularities at many of the 698 unions that went to the polls.
Voters at many unions in Mymensing and Sirajganj alleged that AL activists barred them from casting their vote for chairman positions. They asked voters to cast their vote for member and reserved women member candidates only.
At least 27 chairman candidates including 24 from BNP boycotted the polls halfway through alleging widespread irregularities, rigging and capture of the polling centres by AL activists.
AL activists captured many polling stations while polling began at 8:00am in absence of polling agents of BNP candidates at many polling centres.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that a grand festival of vote rigging was held on also in the sixth and last phase of the union council polls as ruling party activists captured most polling stations as they did in other phases.
At a briefing, he accused the government of snatching the results of all the sixth phases of the polls resorting to violence and using the Election Commission and administration, speaking at a press briefing in the capital.
AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif blamed ‘social conflicts and instability’ for the violence in the UP polls.
In Feni, Noor Hossain Shipan, was killed and 20 others were injured in a tripartite clash at Char Chandia union of Sonagazi upazila.
Feni superintendent of police Rezaul Haque confirmed the news.
Twelve of the 20 injured, including two polling officers, four cops and three ansars, sustained bullet injuries.
Local people said the clash erupted between the followers of member candidates Noor Hossain and Sumon at about 10:30am.
The supporters attacked Char Bhairab Haji Tofayel Ahmed Junior High School centre, damaged election equipments and furniture of the school.
Followers of Sumon allegedly snatched three ballot boxes during the mayhem.
Both the groups traded bullets and blasted a number of crude bombs creating panic in the area.
Law enforcers also fired about 50 bullets to bring the situation under control.
Deceased trolley driver Noor Hossain of the union received bullet-hit and died on the spot.
The injured were undergoing treatment at Feni General Hospital and Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex.
Presiding officer Jainul Abedin said the polling was suspended at the centre.
At Noakhali sadar upazila, Neyajpur union Chhatra League general secretary Yasir Arafat was killed as supporters of member candidates Abul Hashem and Mohammad Kamal clashed outside of Bhelanagar Mohammadia Ibtedayi Madrassah centre at about 9:30am.
Yasir, 22, died on the way to a Dhaka hospital at about 4:00pm, said Shudharam police officer-in-charge Anwar Hossain.
In Mymensingh, Mohammad Shahjahan, 52, was killed as supporters of member candidates Mosharraf Hossain and Abdul Karim clashed at Pukuria Primary School centre. Police and border guards fire bullets to disperse them, said Gaforgaon police inspector Habibur Rahman.
Mosharraf’s cousin Shahjahan was found unconscious after the clash and he was declared dead on arrival at Gaforgaon Upazila Health Complex, police said.
‘He died in clash but the cause of death could not be confirm yet’, Habibur said.
Kohinoor Haque Chowdhury, 18, was killed in a clash in Bekhoijura village of Paikurachi union at Dharmapasha upazila in Sunamganj.
Dharmapasha police officer-in-charge Golam Kibria said supporters of defeated member candidate Toufiq Mia attacked winning candidate Shamsul Haque Chowdhury at about 7:30pm.
Details of the incident were not available as the incident occurred in remote Haor area, he said.
In Pabna, Sirajul Islam Kalu Shah, 40, who was injured in electoral violence in the fifth phase of UP polls on May 27 at Babul Chara Primary School centre of Ishwardy, succumbed to his injuries at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Saturday, said Ishwardy police officer-in-charge Biman Kumar Das.
Police arrested presiding officer Ruhul Amin at Dakkhin Char Saha Bhikhari High School centre of Char Darbesh union at Sonagazi upazila in Feni at about 3:00pm on charge of irregularities and seized 800 ballot papers stamped in favour of AL candidate Nurul Akter Bhutto from him.
Sonagzi police officer-in-charge Mohammad Humayun Kabir confirmed the news.
In Rangpur, supporters of AL candidate Mohaimin Faruk attacked border guards for barring the AL activists from establishing supremacy at Kishamat Serpur Noornai Hafijia Madrassah centre of Bethgari union at Gangachara upazila.
Police sub-inspector Mamatajul Islam said that AL activist candidate became furious and that ensued a clash three. Police charged baton to quell the angry mob that left at least five injured.
Mohaimin alleged that a border guard barred him from entering the polling booth even after providing his identity and hit him with a stick.
AL activists snatched at least 600 ballot papers keeping polling officials at gunpoint at Naughat Government Primary School centre of Ashuganj sadar union in Brahamanbaria.
Some youths wearing badge of boat, the election symbol of AL, stormed into the centre and took away about 600 ballot papers, said presiding officer Kabir Hossain.
Local people said supporter of AL candidate Salah Uddin snatched the ballot papers.
At least 20 people were injured as supporters of AL and BNP candidates clashed at Haatgorjhan Government Primary School centre of Ghorjhan union at Chauhali upazila in Sirajganj, assistant sub-inspector Mamun Hossain.
He said that clash ensued over taking position in the queues for casting vote.
In Savar, at least five people were injured in a crude bomb blast at Palashbari Haji Joyenuddin School and College centre of Dhamshona union at about 10:00am. Three of the injured were admitted to Mamtajuddin General Hospital.
Ashulia police officer-in-charge Mohsinul Kadir said additional police were sent to the spot.
In Jessore, AL chairman candidate Firoj Ahmed for Kaiba union under Sharsha upazila claimed that his vehicle was attacked by followers of AL rebel Altaf Hossain.
The police arrested AL candidate’s polling agent Mominur Rahman for compelling voters to vote for AL candidate at Chandpara polling centre of Narayanpur union at Chaugachha, said presiding officer Kabir Hossain.
In Chittagong, four houses of supporters of BNP candidate Mohammad Hasan at Baroshata union of Anwara upazila were set on fire by supporters of AL candidate Kaiyum Shah following a clash between the two groups at Dudh Kumra Darus Sunnah Madrassah polling centre, said Anwara police officer-in-charge Abdul Latif.
AL candidate Ramjan Ali was injured in a clash with supporters of AL rebel Mizanur Rahman Maruf at Kanchana union of Satkania upzila, said Satkania police officer in-charge Farid Uddin Khandakar.
Border guards detained Chhatra League activist Emran Ahmed with a gun at Bazalia Board Office centre of Satkania, said Satkania circle assistant superintendent of police AKM Amran Bhuiyan.
In Tangail, seven people were injured as supporters of AL candidate Shahidul Islam and BNP candidate Ikhlas Hossain Shamim Khan clashed at in front of Jamuria union council office at Ghatail, said Ghatail police ofcier-in-charge Kamal Hossain, adding that three were critically injured.
Police arrested three people in this connection, he said.
Three people were critically injured in the clash, the OC said.
In Sherpur, five people were injured as supporters of two member candidates clashed at Bhayadanga Primary school centre of Ranishimul union. Police fired 10 bullets to contain the situation.
At Gosaipur union of Sherpur, eight people were injured in a clash when supporters of two member candidates tried to capture Gargaria Primary School polling station. Police fired 25 bullets, said Sherpur police additional superintendent of police Abdul Waris.
In Bogra, police arrested polling agents Rezaul Karim Raju and Pintu Miah of AL candidate for stuffing ballot boxes at Shekherkola union of sadar upazila, said Bogra assistant superintendent of police Anwar Hossain.
In Kishoreganj, seven people were injured as police fired bullets when miscreants were fleeing snatching 300 ballot papers from Bhatia High School centre of Dehunda union at Karimganj upazila, said Karimganj police officer-in-charge Zakir Rabbani.
In Narsingdi, five people were injured as supporters of two member candidates clashed at Kocherchar Moksudpur Ali High School centre of Daulatpur union at Manohardi upazila, said presiding officer Borhanul Islam.
He said as the supporters of AL chairman candidate Hadiul Islam was stuffing the ballot boxes, supporters of member candidates Monu Mia and Israt Jahan also tried to rig votes triggering the clash.
Police contained the situation firing birdshots, he said.
AL activists and polling agents of AL candidate were seen to stamp ballot papers at Sonatola Tafsir Memorial High school centre of Salap union under Ullapara upazila in Sirjganj.
Polling officer Rafiqul Islam, however, claimed that he was not aware of such incident.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net