One person was killed and scores were injured in pre-poll violence across the country yesterday.
An Awami League activist was hacked to death, and six others were critically injured by supporters of a BNP-backed candidate at Buriganj union parishad of Shibganj upzila in Bogra.
Soon after the death of Mahtab Ali, 55, other AL activists set fire to the BNP party office. Mahtab was the nephew of AL-backed candidate Abdul Gaffar.
Police arrested 10 people in connection with the murder. Additional police have been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incidents, as a tense situation has prevailed in the area since the clash.
Local sources said supporters of BNP-backed candidate Obaidur Rahman built an office, having grabbed khas land, in a bid to conduct an election campaign. Hearing this, supporters of Abdul Gaffar went to the spot and started demolishing the building. At one point, a clash ensued between the supporters of both parties.
During the clash, Mahtab was stabbed indiscriminately. He was taken to Shibganj Upazila Health Complex where on-duty doctors declared him dead.
Officer-in-Charge of Burichong police station told the Dhaka Tribune that they would take action after a case was filed in this connection.
Our Satkhira correspondent said at least 10 people were injured during a clash between the supporters of AL and its rival candidate at Kulia union parishad in Debhata upazila.
Officer-in-Charge of Debhata police station Mustafizur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that the clash had taken place over establishing supremacy, but the situation was under police control.
Moreover, a BNP candidate at Dewara union parishad alleged that his supporters could not properly conduct an election campaign due to resistance by the AL candidate’s supporters.
BNP-backed candidate Ibrahim Hossain made the allegation at a press conference yesterday.
Meanwhile, Khulna BNP demanded the deployment of BGB and mobile courts to conduct the upcoming union parishad election in a free and fair manner.
The election coordinating committee of Khulna BNP made the demand in a joint statement.
The statement read that ruling party lawmakers were taking part in the election campaign of every union parishad in the name of meeting of activism, which is a clear violation of the electoral code of conduct.
At the same time, a case was filed against the lawmaker of Barguna constituency 2, Md Shawkat Hasanur Rimon, for violating the electoral code.
Judicial Magistrate Md Billal Hossain accepted the case and asked the officer-in-charge of Betagi police station to look into the matter.
Also, a lawmaker from the ruling AL party recently inaugurated two electricity supply lines after the election schedule was announced, a violation of the electoral code of conduct according to Section 25 of the Union Parishad Election Policy 2016.
Six chairmen and seven members among union parishad candidates have been elected unopposed in Jaipurhat. All are from the ruling AL party.
The district election office published a circulation yesterday afternoon.
