Saidul Islam, who had been a chemistry teacher at Gaibandha college for more than 15 years, could not imagine that anybody could harm him near his college in broad daylight. However, his view was quickly changed after the events that took place on the afternoon of January 5.
Along with a election materials and a police constable, he was burnt by anti-polls activists who hurled petrol bombs at an election conducting team.
“Situation had been deteriorating day by day. So, my family members were requesting me to do something to avoid election duty. But the day before polls I was appointed as a presiding officer,” said Saidul, a lecturer of Gobindaganj Women’s Degree College.
His election conducting team, escorted by two policemen and eight ansars, headed to Puntair Government Primary School in the nearby Mahimaganj union around 4pm.
“We reached the school and found six abandoned crude bombs after opening three rooms to make booths,” he said, lying on a bed in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit yesterday.
Saidul and his team got frightened and informed the assistant returning officer and the OC of Gobindaganj police station.
“They said there was no bomb disposal unit to deal with the bombs. We were asked to take the bombs outside and make the polling centre secure.”
“The OC also phoned Abul Kalam, one of the policemen with me, and ordered him to dispose the bombs, but Kalam did not want to risk his life,” he said.
Local UP chairman and Awami League leader Abdul Latif came forward to help them. He took the bombs and put them in a sand bucket.
“Latif also assured us of secure polls. That night, he sent some of his followers to guard us till the morning,” Saidul added.
The next day polling took place without incident.
“But we were tense about safely going back with the election materials to the upazila sadar. I sought help for a striking force to the OC but he denied, saying there was a shortage of men.”
“Frustrated, we contacted a nearby polling centre’s presiding officer and planned to return along with his team. The UP chairman said he and his men would escort us,” he said.
The two polling teams, UP chairman and his men started around 5pm. They had three auto-rickshaws and a few motorbikes in the motorcade.
“We were near the sadar upazila in the evening. Suddenly, we saw a road block with tree logs and - sensing danger - the UP chairman and his men fled with their motorbikes,” he said.
“Several men started hurling brick chips like rain from both sides of the road. I asked the cops to open fire.”
Before they could, a petrol bomb went off inside an auto-rickshaw, just in front of Saidul.
“My coat caught fire and I jumped off defying the brick-chip. With a policeman I ran for life to the nearby houses for shelter,” he said.
However, Saidul was unfortunate. The first house they stopped at denied to give them shelter, fearing attack on the house.
“The constable with me grabbed the man’s legs begging for shelter, but he would not let us in. So we ran further.”
At last, a family gave them sheltern but they could not arrange to rush them to the hospital in fear of attack.
“I was screaming in pain and fainted several times. After two hours, two of my students came and took me to the hospital,” he said.
“If I finally survive…do you think the scars on my face will be cured? Will I get back the shape of my face?” Saidul asked this correspondent with a feeble voice.
Constable Abul Kalam also sustained burn injuries. He was left unconscious for more than two hours. Finally a police team rescued him. He was also sent to the burn unit of DMCH.
“Saidul and Kalam sustained 12 and 10% burns respectively. They are still in danger,” said Partha Sankar Paul, a physician of the DMCH.