Loss of over 100 lives

The six phases of the union parishad (UP) elections ended yesterday with a high level of bloodshed, compared to previous such polls, with over 100 people killed and several thousand injured.
Experts warned that such  a large number of killings was not at all desirable, adding that it was the duty of the state to provide security to the lives and properties of the people.

In the UP elections in 1988, at least 80 people were killed; 31 were slain in 1997, at least 23 lives were lost in 2003, and 10 died in 2011.
The platform that observes elections, Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), estimated the death toll up to the fifth phase at 101, and counted at least 8,000 injured people.
Besides, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday claimed that at least 113 people have been killed and some 10,000 people maimed.
Experts said that whatever the number of killings might be, these UP polls certainly witnessed massive bloodletting and irregularities. Since the announcement of the schedule of each phase, rival candidates were desperate to win the polls at any cost, resulting in the bloodbath and atrocities.
The highest degree of bloodshed took place in the first phase, when at least 27 people were killed, followed by the second highest number of casualties in the fifth phase, claiming 20 lives.
However, the third phase of UP polls claimed the lowest number of lives, at four, while the second phase claimed 13 lives.
Such a high rate of casualties has put the Election Commission (EC) under tremendous pressure from different quarters, including the ruling Awami League (AL) and the BNP.
After the first three phases of the polls, chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad had said at a press conference that the casualties were fewer compared to the first and the second phases.
He was, however, proved wrong when casualties rose to eight in the fourth phase and 20 in the fifth phase. The EC was held responsible, but the commission refused to bear any responsibility.
However, political parties and civil society members said the EC cannot evade the responsibility of the casualties as it had failed to manage the elections properly.

 

Loss of over 100 lives

The six phases of the union parishad (UP) elections ended yesterday with a high level of bloodshed, compared to previous such polls, with over 100 people killed and several thousand injured. Experts warned that such a large number of killings was not at all desirable, adding that it was the duty of the state to provide security to the lives and properties of the people. In the UP elections in 1988, at least 80 people were killed; 31 were slain in 1997, at least 23 lives were lost in 2003, and 10 died in 2011. The platform that observes elections, Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), estimated the death toll up to the fifth phase at 101, and counted at least 8,000 injured people. Besides, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday claimed that at least 113 people have been killed and some 10,000 people maimed. Experts said that whatever the number of killings might be, these UP polls certainly witnessed massive bloodletting and irregularities. Since the announcement of the schedule of each phase, rival candidates were desperate to win the polls at any cost, resulting in the bloodbath and atrocities. The highest degree of bloodshed took place in the first phase, when at least 27 people were killed, followed by the second highest number of casualties in the fifth phase, claiming 20 lives. However, the third phase of UP polls claimed the lowest number of lives, at four, while the second phase claimed 13 lives. Such a high rate of casualties has put the Election Commission (EC) under tremendous pressure from different quarters, including the ruling Awami League (AL) and the BNP. After the first three phases of the polls, chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad had said at a press conference that the casualties were fewer compared to the first and the second phases. He was, however, proved wrong when casualties rose to eight in the fourth phase and 20 in the fifth phase. The EC was held responsible, but the commission refused to bear any responsibility. However, political parties and civil society members said the EC cannot evade the responsibility of the casualties as it had failed to manage the elections properly.