union parishad elections

4 killed in last phase

The final and the sixth phase of the union parishad (UP) polls ended amid irregularities and stray incidents of violence that claimed four lives yesterday. Over 100 others were injured, including people who sustained bullet injuries.
Among the deceased, one each was in Feni, Noakhali, Mymensingh and Sunamganj districts.
The elections—held in 698 UPs—were marked by various irregularities. There were clashes among supporters, casting of fake votes, snatching of ballot papers, and use of arms to grab polling centres. Even presiding officers unlawfully helped candidates to gain advantage in the polls.
Frustrated over the irregularities in the polls, 26 candidates of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and 11 other candidates—including ruling Awami League (AL) and independent candidates—boycotted the polls in Keraniganj of Dhaka, Comilla Sadar, Gaibandha, Rangamati, Narial, Jhenaidah, Ashulia of Dhaka, and Narsingdi.
Besides, two polling agents were detained in Bogra, while openly casting fake votes.
Chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said at a press conference that the irregularities, violence and killings were not at all desirable, and prayed for the salvation of the departed souls.
“The elections were held peacefully except some isolated incidents. But the irregularities, violence and killings are not desirable,” he added.
In Feni, a man was killed in firing and 30 people were injured, including by bullets, when violence erupted at a polling centre in Sonagazi upazila yesterday. The deceased was identified as Nur Hossain Shipon, 22, son of Abdul Karim, from Dakkhin Char Chandia union of the upazila.
Police sources said supporters of AL candidate Mosharraf Hossain and BNP aspirant Shamsuddin Khokon engaged in a clash with a gunfight at Tofail Ahmed High School polling centre at Dakkhhin Char Kandia union, leaving Shipon dead on the spot.
Feni superintendent of police, Rezaul Haque, said four policemen, three Ansar members, two assistant presiding officers and two female polling officers also sustained bullet wounds during the clash. The injured were admitted to Sonagazi upazila health complex.
In Noakhali, a man was killed and several others injured in a clash between the supporters of AL candidate Amir Hossain and rebel candidate Akbar Hossain at Bhelanagar madarsa centre in Newazpur union. The deceased was identified as Yeasir Arafat, 22, a student of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute.
Arafat, also the general secretary of Newazpur union Chhatra League, sustained injures as rivals chopped him with sharp weapons during the clash. Later, he died in Comilla on way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Sudharam Model police station officer-in-charge Anwar Hossain.
In Mymensingh, one person was killed and 25 others injured at a centre of Saltia union in Gafargoan upazila. The deceased was identified as Shahjahan Miah, 52, from Bagua village in the upazila.
Police sources said the clash erupted over the casting of fake votes at Pukuria Government Primary School polling centre, where supporters of two member candidates—Mosharraf Hossain and Abdul Karim—engaged in a series of clashes with sticks, sharp weapons and firearms.
On receiving information, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel rushed to the spot and fired bullets to disperse the clashing groups, leaving 25 people injured.
Shahjahan, the cousin of member candidate Mosharraf, fell ill during the incident and later died at Gafargoan upazila health complex, said Habibur Rahman, OC (investigation) of Gafargoan police station. Police said there was no injury mark on his body and he might have succumbed to a cardiac arrest.
Three bullet-hit people —Nazmul Islam, 26, Javed Miah, 28, and Mojahid, 25 —were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH).
In Sunamganj, a man identified as Kohinur Chowdhury, 35, was killed and four people were injured in a clash between supporters of two member candidates at Paikurhati Government Primary School polling station in Dharmashala upazila.
Harun-or-Rashid Chowdhury, superintendent of police of Sunamganj, said the clash began when the supports of two rival member candidates locked into an altercation over the election results.
In Laxmipur, clashes broke out between supporters of rival member candidates at a polling centre in Charkadira union of Kamalganj upazila. Police fired bullets to bring the situation under control.
A magistrate fined three persons, including a polling agent, while they were casting fake votes at Uttar Government Primary School polling centre at Noagaon union.
In Narsingdi, at least five people were injured during a clash among rival candidates, over casting of fake votes at Daulatpur UP of Monohardi upazila, leaving Motaleb Mia, 45, among others, critically injured. He was admitted to the upazila health complex.
In Jessore, at least 15 people were wounded in different violent clashes during elections in two upazilas of the district. Besides, crude bombs were exploded at several places under Chaugachha upazila during the polls, locals said.
In Kishoreganj, at least seven persons, including an assistant presiding officer, were injured in a clash at Dehunda union of Karimganj upazila.
In the last five phases, candidates of the ruling Awami League (AL) have won 2,298 chairpersons’ posts, including 220 unopposed, while BNP-backed candidates have won 310 and independent candidates 696.

 

 

union parishad elections

4 killed in last phase

The final and the sixth phase of the union parishad (UP) polls ended amid irregularities and stray incidents of violence that claimed four lives yesterday. Over 100 others were injured, including people who sustained bullet injuries. Among the deceased, one each was in Feni, Noakhali, Mymensingh and Sunamganj districts. The electionsheld in 698 UPswere marked by various irregularities. There were clashes among supporters, casting of fake votes, snatching of ballot papers, and use of arms to grab polling centres. Even presiding officers unlawfully helped candidates to gain advantage in the polls. Frustrated over the irregularities in the polls, 26 candidates of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and 11 other candidatesincluding ruling Awami League (AL) and independent candidatesboycotted the polls in Keraniganj of Dhaka, Comilla Sadar, Gaibandha, Rangamati, Narial, Jhenaidah, Ashulia of Dhaka, and Narsingdi. Besides, two polling agents were detained in Bogra, while openly casting fake votes. Chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said at a press conference that the irregularities, violence and killings were not at all desirable, and prayed for the salvation of the departed souls. The elections were held peacefully except some isolated incidents. But the irregularities, violence and killings are not desirable, he added. In Feni, a man was killed in firing and 30 people were injured, including by bullets, when violence erupted at a polling centre in Sonagazi upazila yesterday. The deceased was identified as Nur Hossain Shipon, 22, son of Abdul Karim, from Dakkhin Char Chandia union of the upazila. Police sources said supporters of AL candidate Mosharraf Hossain and BNP aspirant Shamsuddin Khokon engaged in a clash with a gunfight at Tofail Ahmed High School polling centre at Dakkhhin Char Kandia union, leaving Shipon dead on the spot. Feni superintendent of police, Rezaul Haque, said four policemen, three Ansar members, two assistant presiding officers and two female polling officers also sustained bullet wounds during the clash. The injured were admitted to Sonagazi upazila health complex. In Noakhali, a man was killed and several others injured in a clash between the supporters of AL candidate Amir Hossain and rebel candidate Akbar Hossain at Bhelanagar madarsa centre in Newazpur union. The deceased was identified as Yeasir Arafat, 22, a student of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute. Arafat, also the general secretary of Newazpur union Chhatra League, sustained injures as rivals chopped him with sharp weapons during the clash. Later, he died in Comilla on way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Sudharam Model police station officer-in-charge Anwar Hossain. In Mymensingh, one person was killed and 25 others injured at a centre of Saltia union in Gafargoan upazila. The deceased was identified as Shahjahan Miah, 52, from Bagua village in the upazila. Police sources said the clash erupted over the casting of fake votes at Pukuria Government Primary School polling centre, where supporters of two member candidatesMosharraf Hossain and Abdul Karimengaged in a series of clashes with sticks, sharp weapons and firearms. On receiving information, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel rushed to the spot and fired bullets to disperse the clashing groups, leaving 25 people injured. Shahjahan, the cousin of member candidate Mosharraf, fell ill during the incident and later died at Gafargoan upazila health complex, said Habibur Rahman, OC (investigation) of Gafargoan police station. Police said there was no injury mark on his body and he might have succumbed to a cardiac arrest. Three bullet-hit people Nazmul Islam, 26, Javed Miah, 28, and Mojahid, 25 were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH). In Sunamganj, a man identified as Kohinur Chowdhury, 35, was killed and four people were injured in a clash between supporters of two member candidates at Paikurhati Government Primary School polling station in Dharmashala upazila. Harun-or-Rashid Chowdhury, superintendent of police of Sunamganj, said the clash began when the supports of two rival member candidates locked into an altercation over the election results. In Laxmipur, clashes broke out between supporters of rival member candidates at a polling centre in Charkadira union of Kamalganj upazila. Police fired bullets to bring the situation under control. A magistrate fined three persons, including a polling agent, while they were casting fake votes at Uttar Government Primary School polling centre at Noagaon union. In Narsingdi, at least five people were injured during a clash among rival candidates, over casting of fake votes at Daulatpur UP of Monohardi upazila, leaving Motaleb Mia, 45, among others, critically injured. He was admitted to the upazila health complex. In Jessore, at least 15 people were wounded in different violent clashes during elections in two upazilas of the district. Besides, crude bombs were exploded at several places under Chaugachha upazila during the polls, locals said. In Kishoreganj, at least seven persons, including an assistant presiding officer, were injured in a clash at Dehunda union of Karimganj upazila. In the last five phases, candidates of the ruling Awami League (AL) have won 2,298 chairpersons posts, including 220 unopposed, while BNP-backed candidates have won 310 and independent candidates 696.