Despite the deployment of army, pre-election violence and attacks are continuing across the country, leaving more than 36 people including a poll candidate critically injured on the 16th day of electioneering ahead of the 11th general election.
The incidents occurred in Pabna, Rangamati, Tangail, Habiganj, Thakurgaon and Khagrachhari
In Pabna, BNP candidate for Pabna 4 constituency Habibur Rahman was stabbed and seriously injured by unidentified assailants on Wednesday. More than six others were also sustained injuries.
The incident took place while he was campaigning at Alhaj High School in Ishwardi upazila.
Locals said the BNP candidate and his supporters were preparing for a scheduled rally at the school ground, when the assailants vandalized his motorcade and attacked his supporters.
Ishwardi Assistant Returning Officer Ahmed Hossain Bhuiyan said law enforcement agencies have visited the site of the incident.
In Madaripur, at least 10 people were injured in violence at Rajoir upazila’s Amgram Bazar area around 11pm on Tuesday.
Local BNP leader Milton blamed Union Council Chairman Jahidur Rahman Tipu for the incident.
Hundreds of Awami League supporters, led by Tipu, vandalized his residence and looted valuables, the BNP leader claimed.
Tipu denied the allegations, and claimed BNP supporters had hurled brickbats at Awami League supporters during a procession.
Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Rajoir police station chief Ziaul Morshed.
In Rajshahi, alleged BNP miscreants on 100 motorcycles entered Bagmara and vandalized posters, banners, festoons and the election office of the Awami League candidate on Tuesday evening. A number of the culprits were detained by police.
Baghmara police station OC Nasim Ahmed said the detainees were produced before court on Wednesday morning, and a case has been filed against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
A case has been filed against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
In Takurgaon, ruling party supporters allegedly obstructed BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's wife and daughter from campaigning on Wednesday.
Fakhrul's wife Rahat Ara Begum and daughter Mirza Shamarukh made the allegation at a press conference at their residence around 2pm.
Shamarukh claimed she and her mother were attacked by Chhatra League activists while distributing leaflets in favour of Fakhrul at Basirpara around 1pm.
She added that BNP leaders and activists had rescued them and prevented any harm.
In Rangamati, the Awami League office in Barkal upazila was set on fire on Wednesday.
Witnesses said a group of youths were seen setting fire to the office Wednesday morning, after a clash between Awami League and BNP on the previous day.
Local Awami League leaders blamed BNP-Jamaat men for the attack.
Barkal police station OC Mofazzal Ahmed confirmed the incident.
In Tangail, two vehicles of Jatiya Party candidate from Tangail 5 constituency Shafiullah Al Munir were vandalized in Sadar upazila on Wednesday afternoon.
Shafiullah claimed activists of Awami League vandalized the cars and attacked campaigners, leaving one injured.
The perpetrators also stole Tk50 lakh from one of the cars, he added.
Tangail Superintend of Police Md Ahaduzzaman Mian said one of the attackers has been arrested and the money recovered.
On the other hand, Awami League offices in Nagpur upazila and Dhanbari came under arson attack on Tuesday night.
Nagpur upazila Awami Swechhasebak League President Babar Al Mamun said miscreants vandalized the picture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as well as furniture in the office at Mamudnagar union.
Nagpur police station OC Alam Chan and Dhanbari police station OC Mojibar Rahman confirmed the incidents.
In Habiganj, police raided the motorcade of Jatiya Oikya Front candidate Reza Kibria in Habiganj on Wednesday night.
The candidate’s Personal Assistant Shahab Uddin Shuvo told the Dhaka Tribune police raided the convoy at Kazirbazar in Nabiganj upazila and detained 50 people.
Reza, the son of late Awami League finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, was carrying out an election campaign in the area.
Nabiganj police station OC Iqbal Ahmed said several people had been detained and were being investigated for charges of violating the electoral code of conduct.
Meanwhile, a statement of Oikya Front media cell chief Jahangir Alam Prodhan claimed police had broken into Reza Kibria’s home and vandalized furniture.
In Khagrachhari, at least 20 BNP leaders and activists, including Khagrachhari district unit President Wadud Bhuiyan, were injured in an attack attacked allegedly by Awami League men on Wednesday.
Wadud, a former MP and chairman of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board, was attacked while he was electioneering for Jatiya Oikya Front candidate Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan Farhad in Ramgarh upazila, BNP sources said.
The injured received treatment at Khagrachhari District Sadar Hospital.
Ahmar Uzzaman, superintendent of police in Khagrachhari, confirmed the incident.