Leaders of minority communities today urged the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure security of the minority people during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The leaders also urged the political parties not to nominate such leaders who work against interests of minorities.

While briefing reporters at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad, said, “Those who are involved in the activities against the interests of the minority people should not be made candidates for the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections".

A committee, convened by Rana, was also formed with 17 organisations to push for their demands.

They will march towards the prime minister office in Dhaka from the Jatiya Press Club on September 14 to press home their demands.

Two more people, who were critically injured in violence over the fourth phase of the union parishad polls held on Saturday, died yesterday.

Around 26 people were also hurt in post-polls violence in Tangail and Jamalpur yesterday. 

At least 71 people were killed and some 6,000 others injured in violence over UP polls until May 4, according to Shushashoner Jannoy Nagorik (Shujan), a citizens' platform for good governance.

Thirteen more were killed in violence as of yesterday, according to The Daily Star findings.

In Rajshahi, Zahid Hasan, 34, of Konda village in Bagmara upazila, died from his injuries at a local clinic early yesterday, said Motiar Rahman, officer-in-charge of Bagmara Police Station.

With Zahid, three people were killed there in violence over the polls. On Saturday, two people were killed and 50 others hurt in a clash between the supporters of Awami League chairman candidate, its rebel candidate and police in Auchpara union. 

In Mymensingh, Enamul Haque, 28, of Birboula village, injured in post-polls violence in Poranganj union of Sadar upazila on Sunday, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Sunday night, said Kamrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station.

The police official also added that the supporters of a defeated member candidate attacked houses of the winning member candidate's followers, injuring eight people, including Enamul.

A motorcycle in flames inside the office building. Photo: Mirza Shakil

The injured were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Later, Enamul was shifted to DMCH as his condition deteriorated.

In Jamalpur, at least 16 people were hurt in a post-polls clash in Karoichura union under Madarganj upazila yesterday.

Around 11:00am, the supporters of newly elected AL chairman candidate Mozammel Haque Bachchu were locked in a clash in Garpara village over the distribution of money among his activists for their "duty" on the voting day, said Rampada Mandol, officer-in-charge of Madarganj Police Station.

UNO OFFICE ATTACKED

In Tangail, supporters of a defeated independent chairman candidate demanded a recount of votes of Atia union and attacked the office of Delduar upazila nirbahi officer yesterday.

They also threw brick chunks at different buildings of the upazila parishad and set three motorcycles on fire there, sources said.

At least 10 people, including Osman Gani, inspector (investigation) of Delduar Police Station, were hurt in the attack. They were admitted to Delduar Upazila Health Complex.

Independent candidate Sazzad Hossain along with around 1,000 supporters tried to lay siege to the UNO office around 10:00am.

Delduar police then attempted to disperse the attackers but failed. Later, additional police and Rapid Action Battalion members from Tangail rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Mosharaf Hossain, officer-in-charge of Delduar Police Station.

Our Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Tangail correspondents contributed to this report.

Special medical teams have been formed at all government-run hospitals to tackle any emergency case on the election day, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, said today.

“Special medical teams have already been formed at all district and upazila level government hospitals to tackle any emergency case,” said Prof Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services.

The Election Commission (EC) has directed all state-run hospitals throughout the country to provide emergency medical services on the election day slated for Sunday, EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said.

The decision was taken over worry that incidents of violence may take place centering the election.

The EC secretary said, “In case of any violence on polls day, the health ministry has been directed to provide emergency facilities to the injured people”.

A case has been filed against Chittagong-16 constituency ruling Awami League lawmaker Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury and his two aides for allegedly assaulting an upazila election officer.

The victim, Zahidul Islam, has been shown as the complainant of the case that was filed on Thursday night, said Mohammad Alamgir, officer-in-charge of Banshkhali Police Station.

Besides Mustafizur, two others accused in the case are his Personal Secretary Tajul Islam, also the AL chairman candidate in Baharchhara union, and Maulana Akhter, president of Banshkhali upazila unit Olama League, said the police official.

On June 1, Mustafizur "beat" and "verbally" abused Banshkhali Upazila Election Officer Zahidul at the office of Upazila Nirbahi Officer, who was not present during the incident, for not appointing the MP's men as polling officials in the upazila parishad polls there.

Following the incident, the victim lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. A day later, the EC sent a letter to the OC of Banshkhali Police Station, asking him to file a case against the lawmaker and his aides.   

“Accordingly, I recorded the case on Thursday night. As Zahidul Islam lodged the complaint with the commission, he has automatically been made complainant in the case,” the OC told The Daily Star.

However, MP Mustafizur denied the allegation of Zahidul, terming it "bogus".

Talking to The Daily Star, the lawmaker rather brought an allegation against Zahidul that he was working in collaboration with the BNP-Jamaat men.

Over the incident, the EC suspended elections to all 14 UPs of Banshkhali that were scheduled to be held today.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders in Chittagong demanded arrest of Mustafizur for his misdeeds.