Rangamati Attack: 'Outcome of regional problem': CEC

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday said the attack on election officials in Rangamati's Baghaichhari upazila was an “outcome of regional problem”.

“The matter is still being probed. Attackers have not been identified so far,” Nurul Huda said at a press conference at Nirbachon Bhaban in Dhaka.

At least seven people, including two polling officials, were killed in a shooting on Monday.

During the second phase of upazila polls on Monday, two vehicles -- carrying polling officials and materials -- came under attack in Noymile area of Rangamati's Baghaichhari upazila around 6pm.

The vehicles were returning to Baghaichhari town with election results from Konglak Government Primary School centre under Sajek union.

On Tuesday, Chattogram divisional commissioner formed a seven-member probe committee, headed by the director of local government of Chattogram division, to investigate the incident. “We assume that the attack was an outcome of regional problem. Contestants of the election might have carried out the attack,” Nurul Huda said.

CEC claimed that there was no lack of security in Rangamati's Baghaichhari upazila on the day.

“Fearing untoward incident, we deployed army in the area on polling day. No mishap occurred during voting, although there were some attempts,” he claimed.

“But it's not possible to guess what might happen at night in the hilly area,” he added.

“The attack was stealthy, and the duration was one or two minutes. It's not possible for a force to regroup and launch counter-attack in this short time,” Nurul Huda said.

He said each family of the slain victims will be provided Tk 5.50 lakh, while each injured will be given Tk 50,000-1,00,000 for treatment, depending on their conditions.