An activist of the Awami League candidate for the Munshiganj-3 constituency was shot dead while another succumbed to injuries on Thursday as the election campaign reached its peak.
Moreover, at least 36 others have been injured in pre-polls violence in three districts since Wednesday night.
The deceased in Munshiganj was identified as Dalim Sarkar, 35, a follower of AL candidate Mrinal Kanti Das.
The attack, carried out allegedly by the followers of the Scissors symbol at Munshikandi village in Sadar Upazila of Munshiganj, also left another AL supporter injured.
An eyewitness named Sohel Mia said a group of supporters of independent candidate Md Foysal Biplab, led by Shipon Patwari, brother of Mollakandi Union Parishad Chairman Ripon Patwari, stormed into the election camp of Boat candidate around 12:30am on Thursday and opened fire, leaving Dalim injured.
At one stage, the attackers also beat up Sohel, another supporter, when he was trying to save Dalim.
Later, Dalim was taken to the local hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.
A tense situation has been prevailing in the area following the attack.
Mohammad Aslam Khan, superintendent of Munshiganj police, said police are trying to arrest the attackers. Additional police have been deployed in the area.
In Dhaka, Amar Bangladesh Party’s (AB Party) election boycott campaign was attacked allegedly by Chhatra League members on Thursday afternoon in the Bijoy Nagar area.
Tajul Islam, joint convenor of the AB Party, and advocate of the Supreme Court, claimed that the Chhatra League members attacked and injured two AB party activists, and set their leaflets on fire.
In Pirojpur, a man, who was injured during an attack carried out allegedly by supporters of the Eagle symbol in Pirojpur on Wednesday, succumbed to his injuries in Dhaka on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Jahangir Panchayet, 60. He breathed his last at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at 8am.
Emadul Haque Khan, convener of the election management committee of independent candidate Shamim Shahnawaz claimed that Jahangir Panchayet was one of their active workers.
Supporters of independent candidate, member of parliament Rustum Ali Faraji, hacked him to death in a planned way, he alleged.
Meanwhile, at least 25 people, including five journalists, were injured during the attacks on three election camps of an independent candidate from Jamalpur-5 on Wednesday night.
The attacks were carried out in the Golam Ali market of Nandina Purba Bazar, Maheshpur Kalibari of Ranagacha Union, and Khorkhoria area of Jamalpur Sadar Upazila.
An executive magistrate was also assaulted during the attack.
Supporters of independent candidate Rezaul Karim Reznu alleged that activists of AL candidate Abul Kalam Azad carried out the attacks equipped with locally made arms and sticks.
AL supporters torched three motorcycles in the Maheshpur Kalibari area, they claimed.
Protesting the attacks, the followers of the Eagle symbol blocked the Jamalpur-Mymensingh Highway for around two hours.
Rezaul Karim went to the spot to calm down his followers in the presence of Executive Magistrate Barkat Ullah. When he started to address his supporters, police and RAB suddenly started to charge batons, he said.
Magistrate Barkat Ullah and local Union Parishad Member Suruzzaman Fakir were assaulted by law enforcers, Rezaul claimed.
Besides, five journalists and 10 followers of the Eagle candidate were also injured in the attack. The injured people were undergoing treatment at Jamalpur General Hospital, said Reznu.
He also alleged that there is no level playing field in Jamalpur.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said independent candidates will also get the same benefits as Boat candidates, but I am being deprived of those benefits as an independent candidate,” claimed Reznu.
He claimed that the Boat supporters vandalized three of his election camps and torched three motorcycles in Kalibari Maheshkhali.
“When I took the initiative to calm down my followers and clear the road, suddenly the electricity connection was cut. Armed police and members of RAB attacked my supporters. The AC (Land) and journalists were also beaten in front of me.”
"I strongly condemn this incident; it is a master plan to reduce my voter count, and when the sinking of the Boat is certain and my victory is certain, they have resorted to this kind of tactic.”
Meanwhile, Advocate Mohammad Baki Billah, president of Jamalpur AL, said three motorcycles of their activists were burned in the attack, and their five men were injured.
The independent candidate also blamed the AL candidate for ruining a healthy election atmosphere.
Muhammad Mohabbat Kabir, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Jamalpur Sadar police station, said he visited Maheshpur Kalibari after hearing about burning three motorcycles and vandalizing an election campaign centre.
In Natore, seven people including two policemen were injured as a clash broke out among the supporters of AL candidate and BNP activists during the opposition party’s leaflet distribution program at Singra Bus Stand in Singra on Thursday.
Witnesses said the leaders and activists of BNP, led by Daudar Mahmud, started their leaflet distribution campaign in the morning to drum up public support in favour of the party’s call to boycott the January 7 election and not cooperating with the AL government.
When they reached the Singra bus stand area, police obstructed them around 11:30am.
Later, the leaders and activists of the BNP hurled brick chips targeting police and vandalized some vehicles, triggering a chase and counter-chase.
AL men also chased the BNP men, triggering a clash among police, BNP, and AL men.
Seven vehicles and a filling station were also vandalized during the melee.
However, police brought the situation under control and arrested three people, said Tariqul Islam, superintendent of Natore police.
In Sitakunda of Chittagong, a miscreant hacked and injured the Vice President of Upazila unit Chhatra League, Ripon Mahmud, at an election camp of Boat candidate on Thursday.
The alleged attacker, Abdul Momen, said he is an activist of Muradpur Union Parishad Juba League and denied involvement in the attack.
Momen claimed he had rescued Ripon and took him to hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Our correspondents Nawaz Farhin Antara from Dhaka and Bishwajit Deb from Jamalpur contributed to the report
