Members of law enforcement agencies, political offices, and election rallies were attacked and vehicles torched in several districts yesterday, leaving 25 including two poll candidates injured on the 9th day of electioneering ahead of the 11th general election, slated for December 30.
The clashes took place in Sherpur, Madaripur, Tanagail, Narsingdi, Moulvibazar
In Sherpur, miscreants vandalized the election campaign office of the Awami League candidate from Sherpur 1 constituency, in Bagbari Bazar of Sadar upazila in the morning.
Md Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sherpur police station, said unidentified miscreants vandalized the furniture inside the office in Dhola union at night, and later set it on fire.
In Tanagil, three police officers were injured when miscreants attacked a police van after felling a tree in Sakhipur upazila.
Sakhipur police Station OC Amir Hossain said a gang of 50-60 criminals armed with sticks attacked the police van when it was patrolling in the Borochowna area around 12:30am.
After hearing news of the incident, patrol teams from various parts of the upazila converged at the location and opened fire to bring the situation under control.
Additional members of police have been deployed in the area after the attack.
The OC said it was revealed during primary interrogation that former Kaila union chairman Abdul Halim Sarkar, who is accused in a case, and his followers conducted the attack.
The police have filed a case accusing 300 people over the attack.
In Madaripur, a fire engulfed two trucks stationed in the New Town area on the Madaripur-Shariatpur Highway.
Miscreants attack the BNP office in Goshairbar union under Dhunat upazila in Bogra on Wednesday Dhaka Tribune
Mohammad Quamrul Hassan, officer-in-charge of Madaripur Model police station, said the incident occurred near the residence of Shahjahan Khan, the current shipping minister and Awami League candidate from Madaripur 2 constituency, in the early morning.
According to Nittya Gopal Sarkar, manager of Madaripur Fire Station, miscreants torched the two buses stationed on the highway and fled the scene.
“After receiving news of the incident, a fire service unit was dispatched to the scene and took half an hour to bring the flames under control. But by then, all the goods stored on the trucks, including its engines, were consumed by the blaze,” he said.
According to OC Hassan, it is suspected that the fire stemmed from the truck’s battery.
“The matter will be investigated further,” he added.
However, Madaripur District unit Transport Workers Union General Secretary Mizanur Rahman said miscreants set fire to the trucks to create unrest in the constituency ahead the general polls.
In Narsingdi, the motorcade of Jatiya Oikya Front backed candidate Manzur E Elahi came under attack in Shimulia area of Shibpur upazila in the morning.
At least five people were injured and 12 vehicles torched in the attack, said BNP sources.
They added that the miscreants confined Manzur to a house under the area for an hour.
Manzur blamed Awami League men for conducting the attack.
Shibpur police station Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam Azad said police went to the spot and freed Manzur after learning of the incident.
In Natore, BNP candidate from Natore 2 constituency Sabina Yasmin and four others were injured when her motorcade came under attack in the Trimohini area of the district.
The district unit BNP General Secretary Aminul Haque said a group of Awami League supporters attacked the election campaign, leaving the BNP candidate and four campaigners critically injured.
Natore Awami League Organizing Secretary Malek Sheikh denied the allegations.
In Moulvibazar, two Awami League men were reportedly injured when they were came under attack in a poll campaign in Sreemangal upazila.
Sreemangal police station Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam said police officials have visited the site of the attack.
In Bogra, Awami League men reportedly set fire to the BNP office in Goshairbar union under Dhunat upazila around 7.30 pm.
In Rajshahi, at least 10 people were injured in a poll campaign in Rajshai 4 constituency , police sources said.
In Habiganj, the motorcade of Oikya Front candidate from Habiganj 1 constituency Dr Reza Kibria came under attack in the Bander Bazar area, when he was returning from an election campaign. A local BNP leader was injured in the attack.