The elections environment ahead of 12th national elections has been becoming violent gradually. The attack incidence on independent candidates and vandalizing his car and office were visible in Lalmonirhat district on Friday. Shooting took place over the independent candidate in Cumilla, in which 10 people were wounded.
On the same day, the camps of three candidates of boat symbol were set on fire in Rajshahi, Naogaon and Meherpur. Attack incident on boat symbol-candidate in one constituency of Chattogram, and the same incident on another independent candidate in same constituency took place recently. Even, the supporters of boat symbol attacked with the punt pole on one supporter of an independent candidate in Mymensingh.
According to the information of Lalmonirhat correspondent, independent candidate in Lalmonirhat-1 (Hatibandha-Patgram) constituency, member of central Awami League finance and planning sub-committee and former MD of Sonali Bank Ataur Rahman was attacked, and his car and election office were vandalized. The candidate was seriously injured in the attack. Abu Bakr Siddique Shyamal, Chairman of Goddimari Union Parishad, and his men attacked him during a public meeting at Goddimari Medical Intersection area of Hatibandha at 10:30 pm on Thursday night. At this time, cars and offices were vandalized.
Ataur Rahman Pradhan filed a written complaint against Shyamal in this incident on Friday. His chief election agent, former president of Hatibandha Upazila Awami League, Sarwar Hayat Khan, said some leaders of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League blocked their way along with Chairman of Goddimari Union Parishad, Abu Bakr Siddique Shyamal, when they went to the mass meeting in that area. During this time, cars and offices were vandalized along with attacks on independent candidates and their companions. In this incident, Shyamal was issued a show cause notice by the Head of Election Inquiry Committee, Joint District and Sessions Judge First Court of Lalmonirhat.
On the other hand, the candidate of Lalmonirhat-2 constituency Sirajul Haque complained that the social welfare minister's people are obstructing his election campaign, tearing down posters, threatening workers constantly. He also said that he has made a written complaint to the Returning Officer.
According to the Cumilla representative, complaints of attacks and mike vandalism were received at various places during election campaign of upazila Awami League president Muntakim Ashraf Titu, an independent candidate of Cumilla-7 (Chandina) constituency. At that time, the car of the mayor's son Tanim was vandalized and several rounds of firing took place. At least 10 people were injured. Two of them have been sent to Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Muntakim Ashraf Titu made this complaint to the journalists on Friday evening.
He said, “When my supporters were campaigning in front of Harang High School of the municipality at 5 pm, Awami League leaders and workers led by North District Volunteer League member Shamim Hossain attacked them while chanting slogan for boat symbol. They were beaten and hacked. Apart from this, the people of the boat candidate attacked another campaign team in front of the Srimantpur Mosque of Barakit Union of the upazila.
In separate attacks, the injured supporters of the independent candidate are Upazila Awami League Joint General Secretary Mokhleshur Rahman Dulu Master (62), his brother Abdul Mobin (50), son Nazmul Hasan Romel (35), Municipal Jubo League President Zakir Hossain Sarkar (43), Municipal Chhatra League. Former culture affairs secretary Arafat (20), former vice president of Upazila Chhatra League Saleh Mahmud Bhuia Lenin, former vice president of Municipal Chhatra League Mahmudul Hasan Pavel, Barkit Union Tanti League president Zahirul Islam and Jubo League leader Mohammad Ali and others.
North District Volunteer League member Shamim Hossain said, I am a fact working for independent candidate in Chandina Municipal area. So they are spreading misinformation in my name. I was not in Harang area in the afternoon. I was elsewhere with MP, which can be find out easily.
Ahmed Sanjur Morshed, OC of Chandina police station, said, I can give details after inquiry.
Miscreants set fire to boat office in Meherpur: Meherpur representative said miscreants burnt election office of boat in Hemayetpur village of Gangni Upazila of Meherpur on Friday morning. Shariful Islam, the activist in charge of the office, said after 12 o'clock in the night, he and his people closed the office and went home. At around 4 am, he suddenly saw the fire and shouted. Locals tried to put out the fire. By that time all the goods were burnt to ashes. However, the local people are not sure about who can set this fire.
Fire at boat camp in Rajshahi, independent supporter hammered: Staff reporter from Rajshahi said miscreants have set fire to the boat symbol camp of Awami League candidate State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam in Rajshahi-6 (Charghat-Bagha) constituency. The incident took place in Digha of Ward No. 1 of Bausa Union of Bagha Upazila early Friday morning. Since the incident, there has been tension in the area. A case has been filed against a supporter of Rahenul Haque, an independent candidate of that seat, who was taken to the office of the boat symbol and beaten up. The case was filed by Charghat Model Police Station after 1 o'clock on Thursday night by the elder brother of the victim, Nazir Hossain. Seven people have been named as culprits and 10-15 others have been named as accused. Two people named Faisal and Bappi were arrested by the police in the night. Four people were injured in a clash between supporters of Awami League and independent candidates in Choukhali village of Goalkandi Union of Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara) Constituency.
Locals said that some people under the leadership of MP Enamul Haque's personal assistant Ataur Rahman were putting up posters of scissors symbol. At that time, some people led by Goalkandi Union Parishad Chairman Alamgir Sarkar came and beat up Ataur and the supporters of scossors symbol. However, Chairman Alamgir Sarkar alleged that the people of the independent candidate were tearing the posters of the boat. If they resisted, they would have been attacked.
Attack on MP Nadvi's wife in Chattogram: Chattogram staff reporter said on Thursday night, when the candidate for Chattogram-15 (Satkania-Lohagara) constituency Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi was going to a public meeting in Katakhali Bridge area of Chartit in Satkania Upazila, his wife Rizia Reza Chowdhury was attacked with bricks and sticks by the miscreants. Five people including Nadvir's brother-in-law Charati UP Chairman Ruhullah Chowdhury, Upazila Chhatra League General Secretary Abdul Mannan were injured. On the other hand, the supporters of boat candidate Mahbubur Rahman Ruhel have been accused of beating Mohammad Apu, the activists of independent candidate Mohammad Gias Uddin while putting up a poster in Khayachhara Union of Mirsarai Upazila on Friday afternoon.
Sripur (Gazipur): It has been alleged that the leaders and activists of Awami League attacked the road meeting of Muhammad Iqbal Hossain Sabuj, independent candidate and the general secretary of district Awami League and current Member of Parliament in Gazipur-3 constituency. On Friday afternoon, such incidents took place in several places including Shirirgundi village of Mauna Union of the upazila. Sripur Thana Police and Assistant Commissioner Bhumi Al Mamun visited the spot after receiving the information.
Jhenaidah: Jhenaidah District Awami League Secretary for Industry and Commerce and Dudhsar UP Chairman Sahabuddin Sabu has threatened that if anyone votes against the boat, he will be given a befiting reply. He made this comment at a meeting held for AL candidate Abdul Hai in Jhenaidah-1 seat organized by Dudhsar Union Awami League on Friday afternoon. Later, when Sahabuddin Sabu was asked about this speech, he said, "I don't remember what I said during the speech. But I didn't say anything bad.”
(The report was published in print and online version of The Bangladesh Pratidin and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)
