Ruling Awami League (AL) leaders have attributed the killings during the union parishad (UP) elections to ‘social conflict’. The polls are being held in six phases—five have already been completed—under the party banner for the first time.  Violence is continuing unabated. Many lives have been lost, but the AL is putting forward various theories to explain the violence and deaths. For instance, the party cites “social conflict” and the BNP’s “conspiracy” to make the elections “controversial”.
But the fact is, the UP polls this time have broken all past records in terms of violence. Over 100 people have already been killed, with the final phase yet to take place. More than 10,000 people were injured in the first  five phases of the UP polls, according to media reports.
Talking to this correspondent, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif attributed the violence to “social conflict”. “In a developing country like Bangladesh, social feud is a common phenomenon, and this is the root cause of violence and killings in the UP polls. Besides, the BNP took part in the UP elections as part of a conspiracy to make the polls controversial, which is another cause of increased violence,” he said. He also said the government is trying its utmost to curb violence. “Law enforcement agencies have been asked to take steps to avert such incidents. We hope violence will be under control in the next phase of the UP polls,” he added.
AL organising secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said the BNP-Jamaat combine has a hand in the killings. Their only aim is to make the country’s democratic institutions controversial. They want to prove that fair elections are not possible under the Sheikh Hasina government. The BNP took part in the polls as part of a conspiracy to make the EC controversial, he added. Replying to a question, Chowdhury said awareness will have to be created among people about the motive of the BNP-Jamaat. This will help reduce killings and violent incidents, he added.
Grassroots level leaders of the AL have said they are worried about the UP poll violence as they are losing their near and dear ones in each phase. Whatever explanations are given by leaders, the truth is violence and killings are taking place when supporters of AL nominees and rebel candidates are engaged in infighting over the UP polls almost everyday. Clashes among grassroots level leaders of the AL are taking place both before and after the UP polls. The first phase of the UP elections was held on March 22. The fifth phase took place on May 28 amid massive violence that claimed more than 10 lives and thousands were injured. The final phase will be held on June 4.