18 December 2018, Tue, 12:26

Polls violence: Over 91 injured, offices attacked

More than 91 people were injured, and several political offices and vehicles were vandalized following the clashes of rival groups across the country on Sunday night and on Monday ahead of 11th general election.  

In Savar, at least 20 people were injured when the election campaign of the Dhaka 2 BNP candidate was attacked by ruling Awami League candidate’s supporters, in Amin Bazar area of Savar around 11am.

Witnesses said Dhaka 2 constituency BNP candidate Barrister Irfan Ibne Aman along with his supporters were distributing leaflets in Hizla village in the area, when Awami League men attacked them, leaving 20 BNP men injured and seven vehicles used in the campaign vandalized.

Though members of law enforcement were present during the incident, they remained inactive, Irfan alleged.

Local Awami Leader Rakib Uddin denied the allegation.

Amin Bazar police Outpost In-Charge SI Jamal Hossain said four persons were arrested over the attack.

In Jhenaidah, nine BNP men including central committee Chhatra Dal Joint Secretary BM Nazim Mahmud were injured in an attack in Raghunathpur of Kaliganj upazila.

Nazim said the miscreants attacked him while he was talking to his supporters around 10pm on Sunday.

In Thakurgaon, at least six activists of Swechchhasebak Dal were injured in a clash with members of Jubo League and Chhatra League in Madarganj area of Sadar upazila over tearing up BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's posters.

One of the injured, Rahimanpur union Swechchhasebak Dal leader Abu Sayem Porag, claimed when they were sticking posters of Mirza Fakhrul in the area around 8:30am Sunday, the leaders and activists of Jubo League and Chhatra League obstructed them and tore down the posters, triggering the clash.

However, Md Mostafa, general secretary of Sadar upazila Jubo League, denied the allegation.

Being informed, a police team went to the spot, said Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station.

In Madaripur, five BNP men were injured when a local party office came under attack in Sahebrampur area of Kalkini upazila.

Upazila unit Chhatra Dal General Secretary Shikder Mamun said Awami League men attacked the election campaign office of BNP candidate Anisur Rahman Khokon Talukder around 9:30pm Sunday, leaving five BNP men injured.

In Rangamati, at least 24 people were injured in a clash between the supporters of Awami League and BNP during an election campaign.

The incident took place in the district’s Vedvedi area on Sunday night. 

At a press briefing, Awami League lawmaker Firoza Begum Chinu said: “BNP men attacked our leaders and activists during a procession.” 

Meanwhile, at a separate press conference, BNP’s candidate for Rangamati constituency Swapan Dewan said: “We did not launch the attack. We had been detained for two hours during our election campaign.”

Awami League men had attacked his campaign, leaving 24 people injured, he said.

District BNP General Secretary Mahbubul Baset was among the injured, he added.

In Nilphamari, two Jatiya Party activists were critically injured as Awami League men attacked an election campaign of Nilphamari 2 Jatiya Party candidate around 11am on Monday.

Witnesses said supporters of Awami league and Jatiya Party clashed in Shaheed Minar area under Dimla upazila, leaving two people injured in the morning.

Dimla police station Officer-in-Charge Mofiz Uddin Sheikh said on information, police were sent to the spot.

In Feni, motorcade of Feni 3 BNP candidate Akbar Hossain came under attack around 8pm yesterday. At least 20 BNP men including Akbar Hossain were injured in the incident.

He was admitted to Daganbhuiya Upazila Health Complex.

District BNP General Secretary Zia Uddin said ruling party candidate Lt Gen (retd) Masud Chowdhury’s supporters carried out the attack in Halia village while Akbar was returning from a campaign in Daganbhuiya.