The Election Commission (EC) deployed law enforcers and magistrates for the fifth phase of union parishad (UP) elections yesterday, but violence claimed nine lives, including that of a chairman-candidate and a member-candidate, and over 200 were injured. Polls were held in four districts. Of the deaths, four were in Jamalpur, two each in Noakhali and Chittagong, and one in Comilla district.fifth phase of UP elections
Nine killed in violence
Over 200 injured; polling suspended at 120 centres
The Election Commission (EC) deployed law enforcers and magistrates for the fifth phase of union parishad (UP) elections yesterday, but violence claimed nine lives, including that of a chairman-candidate and a member-candidate, and over 200 were injured. Polls were held in four districts. Of the deaths, four were in Jamalpur, two each in Noakhali and Chittagong, and one in Comilla district.
Besides, two assistant presiding officers were killed in an accident involving a bus and a motorcycle at Munshirhat in Thakurgaon Sadar.
The polling in 717 UPs was marred by clashes between rival supporters, casting of false votes, snatching of ballot papers, and use of arms to take control of polling centres. Even some presiding officers helped candidates to gain advantage in the polls.
In protest, several candidates of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and independents boycotted the polls.
However, the EC described the killings and irregularities as isolated incidents and claimed that polling was peaceful.
The EC suspended polling at 120 centres at 50 UPs as the situation went out of the control of the presiding officers.
Earlier, BNP leaders met the CEC to express their grievances.
Later, the BNP standing committee member, Nazrul Islam Khan, told journalists that the party is sympathetic to the EC for its helplessness. But the EC should not feel helpless because its a constitutional body.
He also said that there is no point of submitting allegations to the EC for its failure to hold peaceful and fair elections.
The last four phases of the UP polls were also marred by clashes and irregularities that claimed over 80 lives; two persons were also killed before the fifth phase. Civil society platform, Shushanoner Jonno Nagorik, recently claimed that 101 people had been killed in the last four phases.
In Jamalpur, at least four people were killed and 50 injured, some of them policemen, in a clash between rival supporters and police firing at Dewanganj upazila. The dead were identified as Ziaur Rahman, 33, son of Nurul Islam, Majez, 15, son of Afzal Sheikh, Nurul Islam, 55, son of Hafez Uddin and Nabirul Islam, 13, son of Amjad Haji.
Five people were hit by bullets and admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Sources said supporters of the Awami League (AL) candidate, Shakiruzzaman Rakhal, and rebel candidate Shahjahan Mia, were locked in a clash over casting of false votes at the Khutirchar Ebtadaye Madrasa polling centre on Bahadurabad union of Dewanganj upazila. The police opened fire to bring the situation under control. The clash left three people dead and 25 others, including five policemen and Ansar, injured.
In Noakhali, at least two people, including an AL supporter, were killed and 50 others injured, 10 being hit by bullets, in a clash in Begumganj. The dead were identified as Syed Ahmed, 60, son of the late Samsul Haque of Aladinagar village, and Sakil, 30, son of Md Milon of Jirtali union.
The police said supporters of the AL candidate stormed the Rajganj Madrasa polling centre for casting false votes, but BNP supporters prevented them. Law enforcers, including the Border Guard Bangladesh, chased them and fired. Syed Ahmed fell on the roadside and died and 20 others were injured.
Sakil was killed in police firing at the KB High School centre, while trying to cast false votes.
Besides, miscreants exploded at least 20 bombs at the Yaarpur Government Primary School polling centre in Kabilpur union of Shenbagh upazila, creating panic among voters.
In Chittagong, a member-candidate was killed in a clash between supporters of the AL candidate and those of his rival, at the Shah Mirpur Govt Primary School in the Karnaphuli police station area. The victim was Md Yasin, 40.
In another incident, a man was killed in a clash between supporters of rival member-candidates at Ashia union in Patiya upazila. He was identified as Babul Shil, 50.
In Comilla, an independent chairman-candidate was killed at Balrampur union of Titas upazila. His name was Kalam Uddin. The incident took place at the Nagerchar Govt Primary School polling centre.
The officer-in-charge of Titas police station, Monirul Islam, said Kalam Uddin was killed in an attack by rivals in Balarampur union.
In Laxmipur, at least 25 people were injured, some being hit by bullets, in clashes in various unions of Sadar upazila over taking control of polling centres and rigging. The police detained 11 people from different parts of the upazila, for casting false votes.
In Feni, a mobile court fined two chairman-candidates in Dagonbhuyan for violating the electoral code of conduct. They were AL rebel candidate Nazim Uddin Munna, and AL-backed candidate Shamsul Alam Patowary.
In Brahmanbaria, several bombs exploded when supporters of two member-candidates clashed at the Mohammadpur Government Primary School polling centre in Ramaril union of Sadar upazila. The police opened fire to disperse them and brought the situation under control.
In Sirajganj, a mobile court sentenced an assistant presiding officer, Forhad Hossain, to six months jail, for irregularities at a centre of Shuvagachha union in Kazipur upazila.
Besides, four people were injured in a clash between supporters of two member-candidates at the Khashsubirer High School centre in Kazipur upazila. The police opened fire when supporters of a candidate tried to snatch ballot boxes at the Khukhni High School centre in Shajadpur upazila.
In Mymensingh, the police detained three persons for allegedly casting false votes and trying to snatch ballot papers from two centres in Muktagacha upazila. The police also fired blank shots to control the situation, when AL men tried to take away the detainees.
In Jhenaidah, at least 31 were injured in a series of clashes between supporters of the ALcandidate and those of the independent at Hatfazilpur Bazar in Mingram of Sailkupa upazila before the election.
A mobile court sentenced a man to 10 days jail at Harinakundu upazila for trying to create problems at the polling centre.
In Bogra, three supporters of an independent candidate of Fapor union in Sadar upazila were injured in an attack by supporters of the AL candidate on Friday. The election here will be held in the final phase on June 4.
