Election conflicts create anxiety
Reza Mahmud :
Conflicts erupted in different areas of the country centric the ongoing election campaigns create anxiety among the people.
Political experts as well the conscious people expressed their concern saying they hoped the post July uprising politics will be totally different from the previous violence prone one.
But, as the clash between different political parties are emerging during the electioneering created disappointment among all the citizens.
When contacted Professor Dr. Anwarullah Chowdhury, former Vice-Chancellor, Dhaka University told The New Nation, “The political parties must have to avoid tensions during their electoral campaigns.”
The parties have to expose their own programmes, plans and view that how they want to change the fate of the country and its people if voted to power.
The experts urged all the political leaders to control their own party men from involving violence during the polls campaigning.
Clash between BNP and Jamaat supporters in Naria, Shariatpur, 12 injured: A clash broke out between activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami in Bhojeshwar of Naria upazila in Shariatpur.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the Bhojeshwar bus stand area on the Shariatpur-Naria road. 12 leaders and activists from both sides were injured in the clash. Among them, six were admitted to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital.
According to police, the clash was triggered by a Facebook post related to election campaigning.
Sources from Naria police station said BNP candidate Shafiqur Rahman and Jamaat candidate Mahmud Hossain are vying from the seat.
A Jamaat worker from Bhojeshwar Union posted on Facebook that “a BNP female leader went to a village on Tuesday morning to campaign in favor of ‘No Vote’.
” BNP men went to a business establishment belonging to Taher Nazrul, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (West) Naria Upazila, to protest over the post.
An argument broke out between the two sides, which later escalated as activists and supporters from both camps joined the clash.
At least 12 leaders and activists from both sides were injured.
Mizan Sikder, President of Bhojeshwar Union Jubo Dal, told the media, “My sister had gone to a village for TCB-related work.
A Jamaat worker spread false information about her on Facebook. We went to the Jamaat Ameer to ask about it. Then Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists suddenly attacked us, injuring 10 of our people.”
Meanwhile, Morshed Khan, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (West) Naria Upazila, told the media, “Our activists were campaigning in the Bhojeshwar area when BNP leaders obstructed them. An argument followed, and BNP supporters attacked our people. Two of our workers were injured.”
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Naria Police Station, Bahar Mia, said the police, army personnel, and upazila administration officials rushed to the scene.
The situation is currently under control Nasiruddin Patwari attacked again in Dhaka: Nasiruddin Patwari, the Dhaka-8 parliamentary candidate of the Jamaat-led 11-party electoral alliance, was again targeted with eggs on Tuesday, intensifying political tensions in the capital and prompting sharp accusations between rival camps ahead of the February 12 election.
The latest incident took place around midday at Habibullah Bahar College in Shantinagar, where Patwari had gone to attend a pitha festival as an invited guest.
Videos circulating on social media show a group of people surrounding him, chanting slogans, before throwing eggs in quick succession.
Patwari and his supporters are seen retreating to a college building’s veranda as the crowd continues the barrage.
At one point, his supporters chant religious slogans in response. He later came out and sat on the road in front of the college, protesting the attack.
Clash erupted between BNP-Jamaat in Sirajganj: Another clash erupted between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists during an election campaign procession in Sirajganj-2 (Sadar) constituency, police said. At least 14 people from both sides were injured in the incident.
Sadar Police Station OC Shahidul Islam said the clash took place on Monday evening in Dumuricha village of Bahuli Union.
Both parties have accused each other.
Sirajganj District BNP General Secretary Saidur Rahman Bachchu said, “Jamaat have attacked our Sheaf of Paddy (BNP symbol) campaign procession and injured six of our activists.
On the other hand, Shahidul Islam, Assistant Secretary of Sirajganj District Jamaat-e-Islami, said, “Our pre-scheduled procession was nearing its end.
As the two processions were passing by each other, BNP leaders and activists launched a sudden attack from behind. A clash ensued, and eight of our supporters were injured.”
Clashes between BNP and independent candidate supporters in Bhaluka: Clonflicts between BNP and independent candidate supporters in Bhaluka Mymensingh took place on Sunday night.
Sources said, clashes involving chases and counter-chases broke out between supporters of BNP and an independent candidate in Bhaluka, Mymensingh.
Several party offices belonging to both sides were vandalized and set on fire.
The clashes began intermittently from Sunday evening and continued until around 10:00 pm, when police managed to bring the situation under control.
Bhaluka Police Station OC Mohammad Zahidul Islam confirmed the incident.
According to local sources, Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Md Abdullah Al Mamun said that in the Mymensingh-11 (Bhaluka) constituency, BNP-expelled joint convener and independent candidate Muhammad Morshed Alam went for door-to-door campaigning in the Batajor area.
Tensions arose with supporters of BNP candidate Fakhr Uddin Ahmed, who is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol.
As a result, BNP’s upazila party office at the Bhaluka municipal bus stand was attacked and vandalized in the evening, leaving several people injured.
As tensions escalated further, the office of municipal Chhatra Dal Member Secretary Adi Khan Shakil was attacked, vandalized, and set on fire.
Additionally, the municipal office of independent candidate Morshed Alam and a Jubo Dal office at Seed Store Bazar were vandalized and torched. Fires were also set at several points along the road.
Fire Service personnel rushed to the scene and extinguished the fires.
OC Zahidul Islam said, “Additional law enforcement forces have been deployed in the area.”
At least seven injured individuals are currently receiving medical treatment.
Attempts to contact Fakhr Uddin Ahmed and Muhammad Morshed Alam multiple times for comment were unsuccessful.
BNP-Jamaat clash in Pirerbagh, Dhaka left 16 injured earlier: On January 21, a clash broke out between supporters of Jamaat Islami and BNP in the 60-feet area at Mirpur in front of Pirerbag Al-Mubarak Masjid over the distribution of campaign leaflets for the 13th parliamentary elections.
Witnesses said, local BNP members carried out an assault on Jamaat members following their maghrib prayers, which left at least 16 people wounded.