With only four days left of the 10th parliamentary elections, the ruling Awami League-nominated candidate in Jessore 5 constituency is yet to paste his electoral posters anywhere in Lebugati village.
The village, with only 1,000 voters, is not of much political important.
Election campaign is also not seen in areas like Dhakuria and Joypur as Jamaat men are allegedly preventing ruling party men from holding campaigns.
Even police do not dare enter these areas without assistance from the BGB or joint forces. It gives a glimpse Jamaat’s power in the area where tension is escalating every minute.
Ahead of the polls, rifts within the Awami League became evident. Party-nominated candidate and his rival, independent candidate Swapan Bhattacharya, have been counter campaigning.
Party-backed candidate Tipu Sultan, the incumbent MP, alleged that Jamaat men had been encouraged to demonstrate its violent politics in association with his rival candidate and the district’s police superintendent, Joy Dev Bhadra.
Govinda Chandra Das, president of Lebugati unit Awami League claimed that the Jamaat activists were allowing the electoral campaigns of Swapan, and that the party’s only problem was with the electoral symbol, boat.
The situation is same in Chachra union, where an Awami League supporter was beaten up by the Jamaat activists the same evening he had pasted posters in Sarapol Bazar.
The correspondent travelled to Lebugati village on a motorcycle, diguised as an NGO worker because entry of journalists is restricted in the area. Many Awami League activists are living away from home fearing Jamaat attack.
“The scenario in the village has changed immediately after war crimes trial began,” said Govinda.
With the ruling party activists gone, people of the Hindu minority community are now spending days in constant fear.
Monirumpur unit Krishak League President Shafi Kamal was chopped to death few days ago.
The recent deployment of joint forces and army has eased the situation a bit. But tension is evident in the faces of the local people, giving rise to speculations of a low voter turnout.
Joypur is the area where 71 houses of Hindus and Awami League activists were set on fire on March 22.
Veteran local journalist Idris Ali was kidnapped on October 27. His body was found in Manush Marar Beel 29 days later.
“I am stunned and surprised over the situation. Some particular areas have been turned into heaven for Jamaat-Shibir activists in absence of step sfrom the administration,” alleged Tipu Sultan.
He complained about the police super to the returning officer for patronising Jamaat-Shibir men. Tipu also alleged that despite being tipped off, police and the joint forces had not been arresting the armed criminals who staged processions in parts of his constituency.
“This is unimaginable,” he said.
Dhaka Tribune could not get a response from the SP as he was busy attending a programme at the last minutes of filing of the report. Independent candidate Swapan Bhattacharya could not be reached over the phone for comments.