UP polls violence leaves 4 dead

At least four people were killed and 16 others injured during the sixth and final phase of union parishad elections violence in Feni, Mymensingh, Noakhali and Sunamganj today.

One of the deceased is identified as a union level leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Noakhali district, report our district correspondents.

Besides, clashes forced the authorities to cancel voting at two polling centres and suspend at four other stations in Chittagong.

FENI

Nur Hossain Shipon, 25, died on the spot when a bullet hit his head during an attack by unknown miscreants at Char Bhairob Hazi Tofayel Ahmed High School polling centre in Sonagazi, reports our Feni correspondent.

Besides, three constables, three Ansar members and two assistant presiding officers suffered bullet and splinter injuries during the attack, said Md Joynal Abedin, presiding officer of the polling station.

Nur Hossain, son of Abdul Karim of Dakkhin Char Kandia of the upazila, was not a voter of the polling centre, victim’s father said.

Following the attack, voting at Char Bhairob Hazi Tofayel Ahmed High School polling centre was suspended, he added.

Police picked up a man named Nur Alam, 26, suspecting his alleged involvement in the attack.

The miscreants hurled at least 19 crude bombs during the attack, Abedin said.

Feni Deputy Commissioner Amirul Ahsan and Superintendent of Police Rezaul Haque visited the spot.

MYMENSINGH

One person was killed and 24 others injured during a clash in Gafargoan upazila this afternoon.

The deceased Shahjahan Miah, 52, was a resident of Bagua village, our local correspondent reports quoting Md Habibur Rahman, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Gafargoan Police Station.

Supporters of two member candidates--Mosharraf Hossain and Abdul Karim--locked into sporadic clashes over casting false votes at Pukuria Government Primary School polling centre around 2:30pm, leaving 25 people including Shahjahan Miah injured.

Locals rushed Shahjahan to Gafargoan Upazila Health Complex where he was declared dead, the police official said.

Shahjahan might have died due to ‘heart failure’, the OC further said.

Voting at the centre was suspended following the clash, he said.

The injured, including Nazmul Islam, 26, Javed Miah, 28, and Mojahid Hossain, 25, were undergoing treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

NOAKHALI

At least seven people, including Newazpur union unit BCL General Secretary Yasin Arafat, were hurt in a clash between the supporters of two member candidates at Belanagar Ebtedayee Madrasa polling centre around 9:30pm, reports our local correspondent.

Critically injured Arafat was shifted to Dhaka from a local hospital. He succumbed to his injuries around 4:00pm on his way to Dhaka, said his family members.

SUNAMGANJ

Son of a member candidate of Pakurati union in Bethuijura village of Dharmapasha upazila was killed in a clash with the supporters of a rival candidate this evening.

Deceased, Kohinur Chowdhury, 18, son of Shamsul Haque Chowdhury succumbed to his injures at Dharpasha Upazila Health Complex around 7:40pm after being beaten up with sticks by the rivals, said Golam Kibria, OC of Dharmapasha Police Station.

CHITTAGONG

At least one house was gutted and five others were vandalised around 1:00pm, allegedly by the supporters of Awami League Chairman Candidate MA Kaiyum Shah, who is contesting the UP election at Barshot union of Anwara upazila, witnesses said.

Supporters of Awami League Chairman Candidate MA Kaiyum Shah, who is contesting the UP election at Barshot union of Anwara upazila in Chittagong allegedly gut and damage houses of the supporters of BNP Chairman Candidate Md Ahsan Chowdhury on June 4, 2016 during the sixth phase of union parishad polls. Photo: Star

The residents of the damaged houses are the supporters of BNP Chairman Candidate Md Ahsan Chowdhury. They claimed that the arson attack was carried out by the ruling AL men. 

Police, however, said they are investigating the incident, our local correspondent reports.

Meanwhile, AL chairman candidate Md Ramzan Ali, sustained bullet injuries during a clash between two rival parties at Anawara Ulum Furkania Madrasa voting station in Kanchoniya union in Satkania upazila, Mejbah Uddin, deputy commissioner of the district, told our local correspondent.

Border Guard Bangladesh members detained a man with a firearm in Bajaliya union of the upazila, said Executive Magistrate Anisur Rahman.

ASHULIA, OUTSKIRTS OF DHAKA

Five people were injured as a crude bomb blasted at a polling centre in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka, during the sixth and final phase of UP elections this morning.

The incident took place around 10:00am when some unidentified miscreants allegedly hurled a crude bomb at Palashbari Hazi Jainuddin School and College centre in Dhamshona union in Ashulia of Savar upazila, said Mohsinul Tabir, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station.

Three of the five injured, identified as Rohidul Islam, 45, Shipu, 30, and Kazi Jafar, 28, were admitted to nearby Mamtazuddin Hospital.

Identities of two other victims could not be known immediately.

Voting was going on peacefully at the centre after additional policemen were deployed at the centre, the OC also said.