Sagar Biswas :Widespread violence accompanied by massive vote rigging and gross irregularities marred the Saturday’s elections in 703 union parishads leaving at least six persons killed and over 300 injured across the country.The victims were identified as Tapas Chandra Das, 25, hailed from Comilla, Hossain Mia alias Suman 26, of Narshingdi, Mahabubur Rahman, 18, of Thakurgaon, Zahidul Islam Bulu, 35, and Siddiqur Rahman,28, both from Rajshahi. All of them were activists of ruling Awami League — either working for party-nominated candidates or supporters of rebel candidates of the ruling party.Apart from them, a member of Border Guard Bangladesh [BGB] Mahmudul Hassan,30, was killed following a misfire from his own weapon at Madarganj upazila auditorium bathroom in Jamalpur district at about 3:10 pm. He was on election duty during the incident.Superintendent of Jamalpur Md Nizam Uddin told The New Nation that the death was not violence related. “He was in the camp at that time,” the SP said. According to information received in Dhaka yesterday, two persons — named Zahidul Islam Bulu and Siddiqur Rahman — were killed and 10 others were injured during a tripartite clash among police and supporters of two rival candidates at Aushpara under Baghmara upazila in Rajshahi at about 4:30 pm yesterday.But unconfirmed sources said that the number of death was four in Baghmara due to police firing to disperse the conflicting mob. When contacted, Superintendent of Police in Rajshahi Abul Kalam Azad told The New Nation last night that “two persons” were killed and four others injured in the clash.The Election Commission suspended voting of 16 unions of Baghmara fearing further massive violence. Earlier on Friday, the EC had asked local MP Enamul Hoque to leave the area for allegedly creating influence in favour of his candidates.In Comilla, Tapas Chandra Das was killed during a clash between the supporters of two ‘member’ candidates at Chandla Bazar [ward no-1] of Madhavpur union under Brahmmanpara union. Six others were also injured at that time. “The victim died when supporters of ‘member’ candidates Rezaul Karim and Sultan Ahmed were locked in a bloody clash over casting of false votes. He was chopped to death on the spot,” Officer-in-Charge of Brahmmanpara police station SM Badiuzzaman said.In Thakurgaon district, Mahabubur Rahman of Machkhuria village was shot dead by the police at Kaldanga Madrassa centre of Paria union under Baliadangi upazila at about 2:30 pm, police said. Seven others also received bullet wounds during the police fire as supporters of two opponent candidates were locked in a fierce clash. Local administration suspended voting in that centre after the incident.”The clash erupted between the supporters of two ‘member’ candidates over snatching ballot papers at Kaldanga Dakhil Madrasah polling centre,” Upazila Nirbahi Officer [UNO] Abdul Mannan said. In another incident, the rival groups hacked to death Md Sumon, who was a supporter of Awami League rebel candidate, at Sreenagar union under Taipura upazila in Narsingdi yesterday noon.Meanwhile, about 19 candidates so far have boycotted the election raising accusation of vote rigging. Besides, voting was suspended in at least 51 polling centres.Over 300 persons were also injured during the clashes, chases and counter-chases across the country. About 20 persons, including four police personnel and two presiding officers, received bullet injuries during the clashes in different unions of Chittagong, Feni and Noakhali. At least 10 persons received bullet injuries during a fierce clash between the rivals of two ‘member’ candidates at a polling centre at Shuvapur union under Chhagolnaiya in Feni district. Twelve others were also hurt during the incident.Besides, the miscreants snatched away magazine from ASI of Police Rabiul after a good beating at Rampal in Munshiganj.Bangladesh Chhatra League’s [BCL] general secretary for the Chittagong City Unit Nurul Azim Rony was arrested along with a foreign made 9mm pistol and 15 bullets from outside a polling centre at Hathazari Upazila yesterday morning.”We’ve handed over the arrestee, the BCL’s Chittagong city chapter leader, to the local police station,” Superintendent of Police in Chittagong KM Hafiz Akter said.The law enforcers arrested an associate of chairman candidate Akhteruzzaman in charge of carrying a loaded shotgun inside a vote centre at Alampur union in Kusthia. A chairman candidate was injured in an attack by miscreants at Jalirpar union under Maksudpur upazila in Gopalganj district. Two presiding officers were nabbed red-handed for casting fake votes in twp polling centres under Baxiganj upazila in Jamalpur. Besides, an activist of Awami League was arrested red-handed while stuffing ballot at Dewkhola primary school in Mymensingh.Police arrested chairman candidate Harun-ar Rashid from Chilakhal Primary School centre at Shalti Gopalpur union under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur district. According to local police station, he was accused in a case relating to arson attack on a bus that killed six persons at Mithapukur two years back.Interestingly, the Election Commission yesterday said that the fourth phase of the UP elections were ‘relatively better’ then the previous three phases amid reports of clashes and suspension of voting in several centres.Election Commissioner Abu Hafiz said, “The election was better this time compared to the previous phases. We wanted an election free of irregularities. However, voting was suspended in some places due to irregularities.”
