Violence continues ahead of municipal polls

Sporadic incidents of violence are being reported from different municipalities every day, with many candidates and their supporters continuing to flout the electoral code of conduct for the December 30 polls. At least 30 people were injured in clashes in Chittagong, Shariatpur and Jessore yesterday. The injured include former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) minister and party chief Khaleda Zia’s adviser, Mir Mohammed Nasir Uddin. Even as voters fret over the situation on polling day, political parties, including BNP and Jatiya Party, are repeatedly requesting the Election Commission (EC) to control the rowdy candidates and supporters. These parties are unhappy with the EC’s performance as it allegedly did nothing apart from issuing some cautionary letters to some  guilty ruling party leaders. When criticism was raised from different quarters against the EC for allegedly not taking any direct action against the violators of the

electoral code, it said it would take direct action. But, the violence did not abate. Several clashes broke out in Chittagong, Shariatpur and Jessore yesterday, leaving 30 people injured.
In Chittagong, Nasir Uddin allegedly came under attack at Guchara bazar in Chittagong’s Rangunia yesterday, while campaigning in favour of BNP’s mayoral candidate Helal Uddin Khan.
“Around 1pm, some 20 to 25 people launched an attack on us, while we were returning from Guchara Bazar, after campaigning with local BNP leaders and activists. They attacked us right in front of the police. They shot at my vehicle and hurled brickbats on us,” said Nasir Uddin.
“Among the 11 leaders and activists who were attacked, Chhatra Dal leader Faruk, Raihan, Mohiuddin and Jahangir were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), and rest were admitted to the local health complex.”
Hamidur Rahman, nayek of the CMCH police outpost, confirmed, “A man named Faruk was admitted to CHCH.” However, Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Rangunia police station, claimed, “No such incident took place.”
“Our leaders and activists were campaigning at Guchara bazar, when the BNP leaders in their rally started speaking of our leader Sheikh Hasina in abusive language. The situation became tense, but police brought the situation under control,” said Md Shahjan Sikder, the Awami League’s mayoral candidate for Rangunia Municipality. In Shariatpur, at least 20 people were injured when a clash broke out between an AL candidate and a rebel candidate in the Naria Municipality area, around 1.30 pm.
Witnesses said the supporters of AL candidate Haider Ali and rebel candidate Shahidul Islam armed with machetes, sticks and crude bombs clashed at Naria Bazar, leaving 20 people, including upazila parishad vice-chairman Kakir Hossain, injured. Soon after that, shopkeepers downed their shutters. In Jessore, AL supporters allegedly attacked the rebel AL candidate SM Kamruzzaman Chunnu at Railgate area around 10.30am, leaving five persons injured. The injured, including Matin, Shafi and Ilyas, were rushed to hospital. Shikder Akkas Ali, OC of Kotwali police station, said he visited the spot along with a contingent of policemen, on receiving information.

 

Violence continues ahead of municipal polls

Sporadic incidents of violence are being reported from different municipalities every day, with many candidates and their supporters continuing to flout the electoral code of conduct for the December 30 polls. At least 30 people were injured in clashes in Chittagong, Shariatpur and Jessore yesterday. The injured include former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) minister and party chief Khaleda Zias adviser, Mir Mohammed Nasir Uddin. Even as voters fret over the situation on polling day, political parties, including BNP and Jatiya Party, are repeatedly requesting the Election Commission (EC) to control the rowdy candidates and supporters. These parties are unhappy with the ECs performance as it allegedly did nothing apart from issuing some cautionary letters to some guilty ruling party leaders. When criticism was raised from different quarters against the EC for allegedly not taking any direct action against the violators of the electoral code, it said it would take direct action. But, the violence did not abate. Several clashes broke out in Chittagong, Shariatpur and Jessore yesterday, leaving 30 people injured. In Chittagong, Nasir Uddin allegedly came under attack at Guchara bazar in Chittagongs Rangunia yesterday, while campaigning in favour of BNPs mayoral candidate Helal Uddin Khan. Around 1pm, some 20 to 25 people launched an attack on us, while we were returning from Guchara Bazar, after campaigning with local BNP leaders and activists. They attacked us right in front of the police. They shot at my vehicle and hurled brickbats on us, said Nasir Uddin. Among the 11 leaders and activists who were attacked, Chhatra Dal leader Faruk, Raihan, Mohiuddin and Jahangir were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), and rest were admitted to the local health complex. Hamidur Rahman, nayek of the CMCH police outpost, confirmed, A man named Faruk was admitted to CHCH. However, Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Rangunia police station, claimed, No such incident took place. Our leaders and activists were campaigning at Guchara bazar, when the BNP leaders in their rally started speaking of our leader Sheikh Hasina in abusive language. The situation became tense, but police brought the situation under control, said Md Shahjan Sikder, the Awami Leagues mayoral candidate for Rangunia Municipality. In Shariatpur, at least 20 people were injured when a clash broke out between an AL candidate and a rebel candidate in the Naria Municipality area, around 1.30 pm. Witnesses said the supporters of AL candidate Haider Ali and rebel candidate Shahidul Islam armed with machetes, sticks and crude bombs clashed at Naria Bazar, leaving 20 people, including upazila parishad vice-chairman Kakir Hossain, injured. Soon after that, shopkeepers downed their shutters. In Jessore, AL supporters allegedly attacked the rebel AL candidate SM Kamruzzaman Chunnu at Railgate area around 10.30am, leaving five persons injured. The injured, including Matin, Shafi and Ilyas, were rushed to hospital. Shikder Akkas Ali, OC of Kotwali police station, said he visited the spot along with a contingent of policemen, on receiving information.