Different parts of the country saw clashes ahead of the upcoming union parishad polls, with election in one union stayed for three months.
Apart from clashes, a highway was blocked in a district while two officers-in-charge were transferred for their failure to maintain law and order.
Clashes, vandalism in Sirajganj
Ten people were injured when clashes erupted between the supporters of a chairman candidate and the incumbent chairman in Sirajganj's Soydabad union on Thursday, ahead of the second phase of the polls.
A tense situation prevailed for nearly an hour when the clashes broke out at Kadda between the supporters of Nabidul Islam, Awami League-backed chairman candidate, and incumbent Chairman Soptik Ahmed Mithu.
Police arrived on the scene, fired 10 rounds and charged batons to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control.
Earlier in the day, the High Court stayed Soydabad union parishad polls, scheduled for March 31, for three months in response to a writ petition filed by Mithu, and this led to the clashes.
Mithu said the petition was filed regarding disputes over the boundary of the union.
He alleged that Nabidul and Nabidul's brother Momin attacked his supporters, vandalised a hospital housed at a building owned by him and blocked highway.
But Nabidul said locals were angry with Mithu as the election was stayed because of his petition, and they besieged his house.
“Clashed erupted among the locals and Mithu's supporters. Police later calmed them,” he said.
Officer-in-Charge of Sirajganj Sadar police station Habibul Islam said the stay order on the polls led to the clashes.
2 hurt in Lakshmipur campaign
Two supporters of an Awami League rebel candidate in Lakshmipur were beaten up during a campaign on Wednesday night.
The two – Solaiman and Aminul – were campaigning for Mosharraf Hossain Bagha, who is running for chairman of Charphalkan union parishad in the district's Kamalnagar.
Bagha alleged that local Awami League activists had beaten up his supporters and also vandalised loudspeakers used for the campaign.
He said he had filed a general diary with Kamalnagar police station seeking security after receiving death threats from Awami League activists.
AL candidate's convoy attacked in Jhalakati
The convoy of Awami League-backed chairman candidate Mostafa Kamal Sikder was attacked while returning after a campaign in Jhalakati on Wednesday night, leaving 15 people injured.
The attackers also vandalised five motorbikes.
The attack was made at Hailakathi village and six of the injured were sent to Rajapur Upazila Health Complex.
Kamal is a candidate in the polls of Mothbari union parishad.
He alleged that Awami League's expelled chairman candidate Abdur Rob and his henchmen carried out the attack.
But Rob denied the accusation.
Officer-in-Charge of Rajapur police station Sheikh Munirul Gias said legal action would be taken in this connection.
Mulghar UP polls suspended in Bagerhat
The Election Commission on Thursday suspended Mulghar union parishad polls in Bagerhat's Fakirhat upazila.
The district election officer (acting), Dilip Kumar Howlader, said the nomination form of a chairman candidate was snatched from the returning officer and a complaint was lodged with the district election officer in this connection.
“The district election officer carried out a probe and sent a recommendation to the Election Commission seeking suspension of the polls,” he said.
Because of the suspension, elections will be held in 73 unions of nine upazilas on March 22.
Two OCs in Bagerhat transferred
The Election Commission has ordered the transfer of officers-in-charge of Morelganj and Rampal police stations in Bagerhat for their failure to maintain law and order in the pre-election period.
The district election officer, Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, said the transfer order was sent in a fax message to the district election office on Wednesday night.
Before their transfer, Md Shah Alam Miah and Md Rafiqul Islam were the officers-in-charge of Morelganj police station and Rampal police station respectively.
Nizamul Haque Mollah, superintendent of police in Bagerhat, said the two police officials would be transferred according to the Election Commission's order.
