Journalists, political offices, and election campaign rallies were attacked and vehicles torched in several districts on Thursday and on Wednesday night, leaving 36 injured on the 10th day of electioneering ahead of the 11th general election slated for December 30.
The clashes occurred in Barisal, Rajshahi, Magura, Bogra, Natore and Bagerhat.
In Barisal, BNP candidate from Barisal 4 constituency KM Nurur Rahman Jahangir was injured in an attack allegedly by Awami Swechchasebak League activists at Patarhat in Mehindiganj.
The incident took place on Wednesday, also injuring four other BNP men.
Nurur was admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition.
The victim said the attack was launched when he was holding an electioneering meeting with BNP activists at the residence of former BNP secretary Afsar Hossain Alam.
“A group of Swechchhasebak League and Sramik League activists attacked us. They broke open the door, ransacked Afsar Hossain’s house and looted Tk1.75 lakh in cash from me,” Nurur claimed.
“The attackers threatened me, telling me to leave the area as soon as possible. Police did not act during the incident,” he added, saying he would file complaints with both the police and Election Commission.
When contacted, Pankaj Nath, general secretary of Awami Swascechhasebak League and Awami League candidate from Barisal 4 constituency, denied the allegations and said the incident was the result of an internal feud between local BNP.
Shaheen Khan, officer-in-charge of Mehendiganj police station, said police brought the situation under control and a complaint was yet to be filed over the attack.
Meanwhile, BNP candidate from Barisal 6 constituency Abul Hossain said supporters of Jatiya Party candidate Nasrin Jahan vandalized poll camps in different areas of the constituency on Thursday.
In Rajshahi, miscreants abducted a local Jubo Dal leader in Mohanpur upazila and shot him in his both legs.
The victim was identified as Bachchu Rahman, president of Mohanpur upazila unit Jubo Dal, the youth wing of BNP, and son of Lokman Ali of Soipara village in the upazila.
Locals said a group of miscreants in a microbus picked Bachchu up from the Rajshahi-Naogaon Highway in the afternoon.
BNP candidate from Rajshahi 3 constituency Shafiqul Haque Sawpan said the miscreants had identified themselves as members of law enforcement.
They took Bachchu to Achinghat in Bagmara upazila, where they shot him in both begs before leaving the location.
Locals rescued the Jubo Dal leader and took him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment.
When contacted, Mohanpur Police Station OC Abul Hossain said he was unaware of the incident.
Rajshahi Superintent of Police Abdur Razzaque Khan denied the involvement of police in the abduction.
In Magura, the election camp of Awami League candidate Barin Shikder in Mohammadpur upazila was set on fire Thursday night.
Mohammadpur police station OC Robiul Islam confirmed the incident.
In Pirojpur, supporters of Jatiya Party candidate Dr Rustam Ali Farazi reportedly attacked Independent Television district reporter Tamim Sarder, while he was performing his duties at an election campaign in the Mirukhali Bus Station area.
The attackers also stole his camera and mobile phone, sources said.
Mathbaria Press Club President Abdus Salam said they rescued Tamim in critical condition and admitted him to Mathbaria Upazila Health Complex.
Mathbaria police station OC MR Shawkat Anowar Islam said he has visited the hospital and spoken with Tamim.
Rustam could not be reached for comment by phone.
In Bogra, at least 20 people were injured in a 3-hour clash between BNP and Awami League activists at Charpara village of Sonatola upazila around 1.30pm on Thursday.
The miscreants also vandalized ten motorcycles and six shops during the clash. At one stage, they also set fire to the local Awami League office.
After receiving news of the incident, police went to the location and had to fire bullets and tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
Awami League candidate from Bogra 1 constituency Abdul Mannan blamed the local BNP candidate for the attack.
In Natore, district unit BNP General Secretary Aminul Haque said Awami League men attacked the election campaign rally of Sabina Yasmin in Sukulpottia, leaving a TV journalist injured around 12.30am.
In addition, he claimed more than seven people were injured in Awami League and Jubo League attacks in different areas of the district in the morning.
Natore unit Awami League Secretary Malek Sheikh denied the allegations.
Returning Officer Shah Riaz said a decision on the incident would be taken after investigation.
Furthermore, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Natore unit chief Belaluzzaman was reportedly abducted from his residence and severely beaten by a group of unidentified men on Thursday.
Belaluzzaman was hospitalized with injuries in his legs.
His brother Shamsul Islam said a group of men picked the Jamaat leader up from his home in Singra upazila’s Raninagar village in the morning.
Locals found him in Kaliganj with his legs bleeding and took him to a clinic. He was later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital.
Neither the identities of the attackers nor their motives have been found as yet.
Singra police station OC Monirul Islam said he was unaware of the incident.
In Bagerhat, the Awami League office in Baghaipara union under Sadar upazila came was set on fire in the early hours on Thursday.
A number of leaflets, banners and festoons were burnt to ashes, police sources said.
Bagerhat Superintent of Police Md Shahadat Hossain has visited the location.
Our correspondents Anisur Rahman Sawpan, Barisal, Dulal Abdullah, Rajshahi, Mazharul Haque, Magura, Nazmul Huda Nasim, Bogra, Kamal Mridha, Natore, SM Shamsur Rahman, Bagerhat contributed to this story