Violence erupted during election campaigns in Thakurgaon, Bogra, Sirajganj, Netrakona, Chuadanga, Chittagong, Noakhali, Narail, Barisal, Manikganj and Narsingdi on Monday night and Tuesday.
One person was killed and at least 72 people injured across the country in these incidents. Police fired pellet guns into crowds and stick-wielding mobs attacked rival candidates.
Also Read- Fakhrul’s motorcade attacked in Thakurgaon
The violence began after returning officers allocated electoral symbols to candidates on Monday.
In Noakhali, an Awami Jubo League leader was reportedly murdered by unidentified miscreants in Noakhali Sadar upazila on Tuesday afternoon.
Also Read- Jubo League man shot, hacked to death in Noakhali
Local sources said Mohammad Hanif, 24, was hacked indiscriminately with sharp weapons and shot in his legs by the assailants around 4:45pm in Dakkhin Char Shullukia village at the upazila’s Aujbalia union.
In the morning, leaders and activists of Awami League and BNP clashed in Noakhali’s Kabirhat area, leaving at least 30 people injured. A number of shops were vandalized during the clash.
In Thakurgaon, BNP Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s motorcade came under attack on Tuesday, when he was entering the district to begin his campaign. BNP said 10 people were injured in the incident.
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BNP Joint Secretary and Nargun Union Parishad Chairman Poygam Ali said: “A gang of miscreants, led by Begunbari Union Parishad Chairman and Awami League leader Bony Amin, blocked Fakhrul’s motorcade. The gang attacked the motorcade when it tried to get past. They vandalized five to six vehicles and broke their windows.”
An election campaign by Workers Party candidate and incumbent lawmaker Yasin Ali was attacked by supporters of Awami League rebel candidate Imdadul Haque in Thakurgaon’s Pirganj. One person was injured.
In Bogra, a Jubo Dal leader’s home was torched and his family beaten up by Awami League men in Dhunat.
Also Read- BNP nominee’s campaign office vandalized in Narail 2
In a separate incident, at least 12 people were injured when the motorcade of BNP’s Golam Mohammad Siraj from Bogra 5 constituency came under attack in Dhunat around 10:30am.
Jubo Dal leader Murad said his home in Rangamati Kumarkhali village of Dhunat was torched around 11pm on Monday.
In Sirajganj, a clash began at Chak Shialkol LGED intersection on Monday, when supporters of Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, a vice-chairman of the BNP, took out a procession to celebrate the High Court order allowing him to contest in the polls from Sirajganj 2.
Also Read- Jhalakathi 2 BNP candidate’s motorcade attacked at Barisal Airport
There was a pitched battle between Awami League and BNP activists at North Sarotia at the same time.
The local Awami League unit of Dhukuria union alleged that five of its leaders and activists were beaten by BNP men, during a procession of the opposition party.
The BNP unit claimed Awami League activists attacked and injured at least eight BNP activists, vandalized the home of a BNP leader at Chak Shialkol, and assaulted another at Saidabad.
In addition to vandalizing the furniture and tearing down the banners and festoons, the attackers allegedly beat up and injured Jamtoil Union BNP chief Abdul Latif Muhuri at a tea stall nearby.
Also Read- Miscreants ambush BNP candidate’s campaign; 10 injured
In the afternoon, miscreants attacked the house of BNP candidate Dr MA Muhith in Ramabqari village under Shahzadpur upazila, leaving 15 injured. The miscreants torched at least three motorcycles.
In Netrakona, some supporters of the Awami League and the BNP got into a fight at Makrail Bazar on Tuesday evening, leaving three injured.
In Chittagong, followers of Awami League rebel candidate ATP Peyarul Islam and Syed Nojibul Bashar Maizbhandari of Tarikat Federation, a partner of the Grand Alliance, locked into a clash leaving 10 injured at Nanupur bazar under Fatikchhari upazila in Chittagong on Monday night.
Also on Monday night, miscreants attacked the convoy of a BNP candidate for Chuadanga 1 constituency in Alamdanga upazila, Chuadanga, leaving two injured.
Also Read- Jubo Dal member's house torched in Bogra
In Narail, Miscreants vandalized the BNP office at Lohagara upazila on Tuesday afternoon. BNP candidate Fariduzzaman Farhad blamed Awami League supporters over the attack.
In Barisal, miscreants attacked the motorcade of BNP candidate from Jhalokathi 2 constituency Jeba Amin Khan in the Barisal Airport area, while she was going to Jhalokathi on Tuesday evening.
In Manikganj, a group of miscreants attacked the campaign of BNP candidate Afroza Khan Rita in the Saturia Kalushah Mazar area on Tuesday afternoon, leaving eight injured.
In Narsingdi, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan’s motorcade was vandalized and 10 people beaten up during his election campaign in Narsingdi’s Sadar upazila, allegedly by Awami League members. Local Awami League leaders also alleged that their campaign offices were burned down by BNP men.