Campaigns end, violence still continues

Although electioneering for the 11th general polls ended on Friday morning, incidents of political violence and vandalism continued across the country, leaving one dead just two days before election day. 

The incidents occurred in Sylhet, Thakurgaon, Bogra, and Tangail.

In Sylhet, an Awami League supporter was beaten to death while he was distributing leaflets in Sylhet Sadar upazila on Thursday night.

The deceased was identified as Kaiser Ahmed, 35. 

Sylhet city unit Awami League President Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran claimed BNP activists attacked Kaiser while he was distributing leaflets in support of the Awami League candidate for the Sylhet 1 constituency in Nolkot village in the evening.

Local BNP leaders have denied the allegation.

Jalalabad police station OC Shah Harunur Rashid said Kaiser was killed by BNP supporter Abdul Barek, as there had previously been a dispute between the two over a missing cow.

Barek and his wife have been arrested and a case has been filed accusing seven people over the incident, the OC added.

In Thakurgaon, the campaign office of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, also the party’s candidate from Thakurgaon 1 constituency, was vandalized allegedly by activists of the ruling party.

BNP sources said the incident took place at Fakhrul’s election camp in Ward 10 of Thakurgaon municipality in the early hours on Friday.

Three BNP men were injured in the incident. 

Thakurgaon Sadar police station OC Asikur Rahman said police were sent to the location after being informed of the incident.

Furthermore, the home of a Hindu family was set on fire in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. So far, three homes belonging to members of the religious minority community have been torched in the upazila.

Ananda Chandra Barman’s home at Jhapartali village of Akhanagar Union caught fire around 10pm on Thursday, said Thakurgaon Fire Service Station Master Mofidar Rahman Khan.

 “A fire fighting unit brought the blaze under control, but two of the huts were gutted by the time they managed to do so,” he added. 

House owner Barman claimed he smelt petrol when he saw the blaze.

Ruhia police station OC Pradeep Kumar Roy said police are investigating the incidents.

In Bogra, an activist of Jubo League was attacked allegedly by BNP men in Dhunat upazila on Friday morning.

According to sources, Abdul Hamid, 36, publicity secretary of Mathurapur union council unit Jubo League, had an altercation with BNP in Shyamgoti village the previous day, as some posters of Awami League candidate Habibur Rahman had been torn.

The BNP men then attacked Abdul on Friday morning, the sources claimed.

Dhunat police station OC Ismail Hossain said legal action would be taken against the miscreants responsible for the attack.

On the other hand, an election camp of the Grand Alliance was set on fire in Bogra Sadar upazila early Friday.

A case has been filed with Bogra Sadar police station over the incident.

In Tangail, an Awami League office was torched in Charbilsha village of Mirzapur upazila on Thursday night.

Local Awami League leader Faruk Ahmed said he has filed a case with Mirzapur police station in this regard.

Mirzapur police station SI Md Mizan said police have visited the location.