At least 17 people, including 10 ruling Awami League supporters, were killed and 64 injured in 16 incidents of sporadic violence in different parts of the country during the 11th Parliamentary Elections on Sunday. Scores of people were also arrested from the conflict zones on the day. The figure is the lowest election related fatalities in the history of parliamentary elections in the country. Around 100 people were killed during the 10th national elections in 2014. The BNP-Jamaat activists torched over 100 voting centres on the day and voting was disrupted in about 400 voting centres.
The January 5 elections were held at a great cost to the economy and people at large. According to a report in the Australian press (quoting Bangladesh Human Rights group Ain O Salish Kendra) a total of 507 people were killed in polls related violence in 2013. A total of 39 people died in the weekend of the elections either from violence or by police fire, and 150 election centres were burned by the opposition activists.
In the capital, BNP candidate for Dhaka-4 constituency Md Salahuddin Ahmed was hacked allegedly by ruling party activists when he went to cast his vote at Shyampur Model High School voting centre in the morning on Sunday. Violence in the forms of clashes, beating, chase and counter chases took place in Dinajpur, Bogura, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Sylhet, Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Rangamati districts. Eight people got injured as election related violence erupted in three constituencies of Rajshahi on Sunday.
Our Gazipur Correspondent reported that Liakat Hossian, an Awami League leader and former Vice-President of Kazi Azimuddin College Sangsad, was stabbed to death at Harinal in the city.
Quoting Liakat's brother Ershad Hossain, Samir Sutra Dhar, Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station, said the local activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal stabbed Liakat indiscriminately at a polling centre around 2:30pm leaving him critically injured. Later, he was taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Our Noakhali Correspondent added that Nurun Nabi, an Ansar member, was shot dead by some miscreants at Tulachara Primary School Polling Station of Noakhali-3 constituency, said Presiding Officer Prof Dr Suchon Chowdhury. Our Narsingdhi Correspondent said, quoting Abul Kalam Azad, Officer-in-Charge of Shibpur Police Station, that Milon Miah, 35, an Awami League polling agent, was hacked and slaughtered allegedly by supporters of opposition (independent) candidate at Kundarpara Primary School polling Centre of Shibpur of Narsingdi-3 constituency around 12:30am.
Our Rangamati Correspondent added that Bashir Uddin, general secretary of Kashkhali Union Jubo League unit, was killed in an attack allegedly by some BNP activists at Kashkhali Union in Kaukhali Upazila in the morning. Our Natore Correspondent reported that Hussain Ali, an Awami League supporter, was stabbed to death by his nephew Ratan Fakir following an altercation over casting vote at Samskholsi village in Naldanga Upazila. Our Staff Correspondent in Chattogram said that Ahmed Kabir, 45, an activist of Jatiya Party, was killed in a clash between Awami League and Jatiya Party activists in Banshkhali Upazila early in the morning.
Meanwhile, a tripartite clash between Awami League, BNP and supporters of 'candle' symbol in Patiya left 18-year-old Abu Sadek dead. Additional Superintendent of Police Afruzul Haque Tutu confirming the casualty said, "He fell in the middle of the clash and died." The incident took place around 10:00am at Pashchim Maliapara, under Chattogram-12. The political affiliation of the deceased could not be ascertained. Our Cumilla Correspondent added that Bachchu Mia, 35, a resident of Sundial village in Nangalkot Upazila, was killed in a clash between the supporters of AL and BNP in the morning, said district police special branch Sub-Inspector Mahbub Morshed.
Besides, a rickshaw-puller Muzibur Rahman, 35, son of Sujat Ali of Muradnagar village of the upazila, was killed in a clash between ruling Awami League and BNP men at Pachhim Belashwar village in Chandina Upazila. In Rajshahi, Merajul Islam, 30, son of late Abdus Sattar and an Awami League supporter, was killed in a clash between BNP and AL men in Pakuria Govt High School centre in Jahanabad Union of Mohonpur Upazila around 11:00am over capturing a polling centre of Rajshahi-3 constituency, said Rajshahi district police superintendent Shahidullah.
Besides, Modasser Ali, 40, organising secretary of Awami League Ward No 8 in Panchandar Union of Tanore Upazila was killed in a clash between BNP and Awami League men over capturing Mohammadpur High School Polling Station of Rajshahi-1 constituency, said Officer-in-Charge Rezaul Islam of Tanore Police Station. In Tangail, police recovered the body of BNP ward unit president Abdul Aziz, 65, who remained missing since Saturday from Nagda Shimla area in Gopalpur upazila. In Sylhet, a local JCD leader was shot dead during a clash over occupying Azizpur Govt Primary School polling centre in Balaganj Upazila. The deceased was identified as Sayem Ahmed Sohel, general secretary of JCD upazila unit.
Quoting witnesses, Mahbubul Alam, Sub-Inspector of Balaganj Police Station, said a group of people swooped on the polling centre around 3:50pm and tried to capture it.
Our Cox's Bazar Correspondent reported that Abdullah Al Faruque, 25, son of Abul Kalam of Rajakhali union in Pekua Upazila, was killed in a clash between BNP and AL men in Rajakhali Govt Primary School Polling Station of Cox's Bazar-1 constituency around 10:00am, said Tanzir Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Pekua Police Station. Our Bogura Correspondent added that Awami League activist Azizul Islam, 30, was killed and five others were injured in a clash between AL and BNP activists at Bagil Polling Station in Kahalu Upazila around 11:30am over capturing the centre, said Paikor Union Parishad Chairman Mitu Chowdhury.
Our Brahmanbaria Correspondent said that Israil, 19, son of Sayedul Islam of Rajghar village in Sadar Upazila, was shot dead and three others suffered bullet wounds 'in police firing' during a clash between supporters of AL and BNP at Rajghar Government Primary School polling centre of Brahmanbaria-3 constituency.
Our Dinajpur Correspondent added that a voter died during a clash between supporters of Awami League and BNP in Sohogram Govt Primary School, under Dinajpur-2 around noon. The victim was an elderly, Kina Mohammad, 65. Birolpur Police Station OC Golam Rosul confirm the casualty. "He fell in the midst of chase and counter-chase of the two rivals and died in a heart attack."
