Voter turnout is likely to be low in the constituencies of Jessore, as locals – especially the Hindu community – fear that violence might escalate surrounding Sunday’s national polls.
Govinda Chandra Das, president of Awami League’s unit in ward No 3 in Kashimnagar Union in Manirampur upazila, is doubtful about the casting of over 30% vote in his union which has about 1,500 voters.
“Not even 10% of Hindu vote will be cast,” said Govinda, whose house came under a crude bomb attack on the night of war criminal Abdul Quader Molla’s execution. Govinda believes floating voters will largely avoid going to the polling centres.
The AL-nominated candidate could not run his electoral campaign in parts of the union, including the village Lebugati, he said.
Like Govinda’s union, tension also runs high in Bhojgati and Dhakuria unions at the 11th hour of the election.
The AL-nominated candidates in three of the six constituencies in Jessore are contesting their rival party colleagues who are participating in the election as independent candidates.
The administration has classified 301 polling centres of the total 504 as “vulnerable,” which are in areas dominated by mainly Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Visits to a few of the “vulnerable” areas revealed that fear among voters, especially the local Hindu community, was likely to result in less than 50% voter turnout in the polls.
Fear is high among voters in Jessore 5 (Manirampur) constituency, as the AL leaders and activists faced violent resistance from Jamaat-Shibir during attempts to conduct election campaign.
As many as 85 of the 122 polling centres are considered “vulnerable” in Manirampur, where both Hindus and AL leaders have been repeatedly attacked.
AL candidate Tipu Sultan, who is also the incumbent MP, blamed his rival Swapan Bhattacharya, former Chairman of Manirampur upazila, for backing Jamaat-Shibir men against him.
The Jessore 2 constituency (Chougachha-Jhikargachha) is relatively in a better election mood as a hard contest is expected between the candidates – former energy state minister Rofiqul Islam and former Jhikargachha upazila Chairman Monirul Islam.
The 174 polling centers in the constituency included 88 “important” polling centres. There are also speculations about potential election violence in the constituency involving the AL’s factional politics.
In Jessore 4 constituency (Abhaynagar-Bagharpara), 94 polling centres out of the total 134 have been labeled as “vulnerable” by the administration, while all the eight polling centres in Basundia union are considered “vulnerable.”
Two incumbent AL lawmakers are fighting for this seat because of electoral area delimitation by the Election Commission. MP Ronojit Roy is in the race with AL ticket and his competitor is another AL leader Sheikh Abdul Ohab. A strong contest is expected in this seat too.
In Jessore 6 (Keshabpur) constituency, as many as 40 out of the 75 polling centers have been classified as “vulnerable”. The BNF candidate Proshanto Biswash is contending the AL candidate Ismat Ara Sadeq in the constituency.
The AL candidates elected uncontested from two constituencies are Kazi Nabil Ahmed from Jessore 3 (Sadar) and Sheikh Afil Uddin (Sharsha) from Jessore 1.
Jessore’s Returning Officer Mustafizur Rahman said the administration is all prepared for holding the election without any violence.
“Magistrates and law enforcement forces have already been deployed in all the constituencies. Those on duty in the ‘important’ polling centres were given special instructions,” said Mustafizur.