Fourth phase of Union Parishad polls sees less violence
One person has been killed in police firing during a clash in Thakurgaon
Voting to 838 unions accross the country in the fouth phase of the Union Parishad (UP) polls started at 8am on Sunday, December 26, 2021 DhakaTribune
Tribune Report
Publish : 26 Dec 2021, 09:48 AMUpdate : 31 Dec 2021, 04:48 PM
The fourth phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections took place in 838 unions across Bangladesh on Sunday.
A total of 43,433 candidates contested for chairman and member posts and reserved seats in the fourth phase, voting for which was held from 8am to 4pm at 9,224 centres.
The voting was held using electronic voting machines (EVM) in 33 UPs.
As many as 295 candidates were elected unopposed even before the balloting began. Among them, 48 were chairman, 112 are reserved seat candidates and 135 are general members.
This time, additional forces were deployed ahead of the polls since the previous three phases saw massive violence and deaths. However, several sporadic incidents of violence and irregularities still took place in different areas, resulting in one death and voting boycott by several candidates.
At least one person was killed as police opened fire on two groups of people fighting over the announcement of UP election results in Thakurgaon on Sunday evening.
District Superintendent of Police Md Jahangir Hossain confirmed the death of Hamidul. Details about the deceased could not be known immediately.
“A group of people obstructed officials from performing the government duties of declaring the election results. Later, one person died when the police opened fire on order of the presiding officer,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
The incident took place when the followers of two member candidates engaged in a clash at Dakkhin Asan Nagar Government Primary School centre under Rajagaon Union of the Sadar Upazila around 7:30pm.
Police recovered the body and kept it at Thakurgaon Adhunik Sadar Hospital for an autopsy.
Earlier in the day, a woman and her father were detained for trying to snatch ballot papers at Jhargaon Rahmania Dakhil Madrasa centre for the polls to Akhanagar UP.
When the situation heated up, some unknown people fired at least 15 rounds of blanks, leaving one person injured.
In Comilla, outsiders attacked the voting centre at Shaldhar Government Primary School in Sadar upazila, leaving one man injured.
At that time, the miscreants exchanged gunfire with the police. At least 15 crude bombs were exploded during the chase and counter chase.
In Feni, 11 people, including a woman and a child, were shot and wounded during a clash between the supporters of two candidates of UP polls at Sonagazi upazila on Sunday.
Witnesses alleged supporters of member candidate Omar Farooq Sajib opened fire when the supporters of another candidate blocked their way to get inside the centre of Charchandia Hossainiya Government Primary School at noon.
Later, the injured were sent to Sonagazi Health Complex.
In Tangail, two independent candidates boycotted the election alleging people were forced to vote for the boat symbol in public by the supporters of the Awami League chairman candidates.
In Sylhet, election officials caught four teenagers who were trying to cast votes at Digalbak Government Primary School centre in Ward 2 of Sheola union in Beanibazar upazila and later handed them over to law enforcers.
In Satkhira, an EVM machine had malfunctioned and changed the symbols of two candidates at a polling station in Ramjannagar union under Shyamnagar upazila, which led to a two-hour delay in starting the balloting.
Meanwhile, Awami League has expelled eight rebel candidates of Shyamnagar upazila from the party for contesting in the polls.
In Pabna, though the election started peacefully at nine unions, violence was reported in the afternoon.
Several people, including two men, were injured in a shootout and clash in Hemayetpur union when ruling party supporters allegedly tried to occupy polling stations and snatch ballot papers. Police had fired teargas and rubber bullets to control the situation.
Besides, the agent of an independent candidate was beaten at Nazirpur School centre at the same union.
In Jamalpur, elections to 16 UPs were held amid clashes and ballot box snatching.
Voting had started peacefully in the morning, but two polling stations were closed following clashes. At least 10 people were left injured in the incident at Char Gopalpur Government Primary School centre at Gunaritla union of Madarganj upazila.
Meanwhile, the supporters of member candidate Khairul Kabir reportedly snatched two ballot boxes from Sengua East Government Primary School centre in Mahadan union of Sarishabari upazila.
An assistant presiding officer and a police constable were injured during a scuffle with the assaulters. Later, one of the ballot boxes was recovered.
While police detained a man over the incident, voting at the centre was later suspended.
The last three phases of the UP elections were marred by violence and irregularities.
At least six people were killed and over 100 others were injured in the second phase held around the country on November 11.
Three people were killed and a number of people were injured in the first phase that concluded with reports of sporadic violence and clashes on September 20.
Two people were also killed and a number of people were injured in the third phase of the polls held on November 28.
Our district correspondents contributed to this report
Fourth phase of Union Parishad polls sees less violence
The fourth phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections took place in 838 unions across Bangladesh on Sunday.
A total of 43,433 candidates contested for chairman and member posts and reserved seats in the fourth phase, voting for which was held from 8am to 4pm at 9,224 centres.
The voting was held using electronic voting machines (EVM) in 33 UPs.
As many as 295 candidates were elected unopposed even before the balloting began. Among them, 48 were chairman, 112 are reserved seat candidates and 135 are general members.
This time, additional forces were deployed ahead of the polls since the previous three phases saw massive violence and deaths. However, several sporadic incidents of violence and irregularities still took place in different areas, resulting in one death and voting boycott by several candidates.
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At least one person was killed as police opened fire on two groups of people fighting over the announcement of UP election results in Thakurgaon on Sunday evening.
District Superintendent of Police Md Jahangir Hossain confirmed the death of Hamidul. Details about the deceased could not be known immediately.
“A group of people obstructed officials from performing the government duties of declaring the election results. Later, one person died when the police opened fire on order of the presiding officer,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
The incident took place when the followers of two member candidates engaged in a clash at Dakkhin Asan Nagar Government Primary School centre under Rajagaon Union of the Sadar Upazila around 7:30pm.
Police recovered the body and kept it at Thakurgaon Adhunik Sadar Hospital for an autopsy.
Earlier in the day, a woman and her father were detained for trying to snatch ballot papers at Jhargaon Rahmania Dakhil Madrasa centre for the polls to Akhanagar UP.
When the situation heated up, some unknown people fired at least 15 rounds of blanks, leaving one person injured.
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In Comilla, outsiders attacked the voting centre at Shaldhar Government Primary School in Sadar upazila, leaving one man injured.
At that time, the miscreants exchanged gunfire with the police. At least 15 crude bombs were exploded during the chase and counter chase.
In Feni, 11 people, including a woman and a child, were shot and wounded during a clash between the supporters of two candidates of UP polls at Sonagazi upazila on Sunday.
Witnesses alleged supporters of member candidate Omar Farooq Sajib opened fire when the supporters of another candidate blocked their way to get inside the centre of Charchandia Hossainiya Government Primary School at noon.
Later, the injured were sent to Sonagazi Health Complex.
In Tangail, two independent candidates boycotted the election alleging people were forced to vote for the boat symbol in public by the supporters of the Awami League chairman candidates.
In Sylhet, election officials caught four teenagers who were trying to cast votes at Digalbak Government Primary School centre in Ward 2 of Sheola union in Beanibazar upazila and later handed them over to law enforcers.
In Satkhira, an EVM machine had malfunctioned and changed the symbols of two candidates at a polling station in Ramjannagar union under Shyamnagar upazila, which led to a two-hour delay in starting the balloting.
Also Read - Former Chhatra League general secretary Rabbani stabbed during UP polls
Meanwhile, Awami League has expelled eight rebel candidates of Shyamnagar upazila from the party for contesting in the polls.
In Pabna, though the election started peacefully at nine unions, violence was reported in the afternoon.
Several people, including two men, were injured in a shootout and clash in Hemayetpur union when ruling party supporters allegedly tried to occupy polling stations and snatch ballot papers. Police had fired teargas and rubber bullets to control the situation.
Besides, the agent of an independent candidate was beaten at Nazirpur School centre at the same union.
In Jamalpur, elections to 16 UPs were held amid clashes and ballot box snatching.
Voting had started peacefully in the morning, but two polling stations were closed following clashes. At least 10 people were left injured in the incident at Char Gopalpur Government Primary School centre at Gunaritla union of Madarganj upazila.
Meanwhile, the supporters of member candidate Khairul Kabir reportedly snatched two ballot boxes from Sengua East Government Primary School centre in Mahadan union of Sarishabari upazila.
An assistant presiding officer and a police constable were injured during a scuffle with the assaulters. Later, one of the ballot boxes was recovered.
While police detained a man over the incident, voting at the centre was later suspended.
The last three phases of the UP elections were marred by violence and irregularities.
At least six people were killed and over 100 others were injured in the second phase held around the country on November 11.
Three people were killed and a number of people were injured in the first phase that concluded with reports of sporadic violence and clashes on September 20.
Two people were also killed and a number of people were injured in the third phase of the polls held on November 28.
Our district correspondents contributed to this report