SM Mizanur Rahman :At least eight people were killed and over 200 injured on Saturday as the 5th phase Union Parishad elections to 717 unions in 86 upazilas of the country were flawed by violence and irregularities.The vote casting began at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm without any break. Four persons were killed in Jamalpur, two in Chittagong, one each in Comilla and Noakhali. The election to the smallest tier of local government is being held for the first time on party lines. Some 30 people were injured in a police firing in Dewanganj upazila of Jamalpur, while 11 others in Burichong and Meghna upazila of Comilla and 25 in Sadar upazila of Laxmipur and seven each in Chittagong and Noakhali. Besides, many others were injured in some other districts. In Jamalpur, a deadly triangular clash between police and supporters of Awami League-nominated chairman candidate Sakaruzzaman Raka in side and the rebel candidate Shahjahan on the other left at least four persons dead and 30 others injured at Khutarchar Ebtedayee Madrasah polling centre in Dewanganj upazila during election in the morning.The deceased have been identified as Nurul Islam, 20, son of Mohammad Sattar, Abdul Mazed, 15, son of Afzal Hossain, Nabirul Islam 16, son of Amzad Ali, and Ziaur Rahman, son of Nurul Islam. All the four were shot dead.Besides, Mohammad Aftab, Mahmudur Rahman, Khudu Miah, Shafique, Zakiul and many others received serious bullets wounds.The clash began between two groups when one of them tried to take control of the polling station in Bahadurabad union.According to locals and police, the supporters of AL rebel chairman candidate obstructed the men of AL nominated candidate when they tried to capture the centre in the morning.At one stage, 300 supporters of the AL candidate attacked the rebel AL candidate’s men with sharp weapons. “We have already recovered three bodies from the spot. We have also come to know that another person was also killed in the violence,” Additional Superintendent of Police Shariful Haque told The New Nation. He said supporters of AL nominated chairman candidate launched the attack on the supporters of AL rebel chairman candidate “When the supporters of AL nominated chairman candidate tried to capture the centre, the supporters of AL rebel chairman candidate barred them. At this stage, the supporters of AL nominated candidate started firing gunshots indiscriminately leaving three persons dead on the spot,” the police official said. Police fired more than 100 rounds of bullet to control the situation. Dewanganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saiful Islam issued suspension order around 10:35 am following the incident. The injured were rushed to Dewanganj Upazila Health Complex from where 10 people were shifted to Jamalpur General Hospital as their condition deteriorated.In Noakhali, an activist of Awami League was killed and six others were injured in a clash between the supporters of Awami League and BNP at a polling centre in Razganj union in Begumganj Upazila.Police said the clash ensued in the morning when the supporters of Awami League-backed chairman candidate stormed the Razganj Government High School polling centre for taking its control.At one stage, the supporters of BNP-backed chairman candidate tried to resist them, triggering the clash.Later, both the groups exchanged gunfire, leaving Sirajul Islam, 50, dead on the spot and six others injured, said Ilias Sharif, Superintendent of Police, Noakhali.Besides, at least 20 crude bombs were exploded at Yaarpur Government Primary School polling centre in Kabilpur union of Shenbagh upazila as a chase and counter-chase took place among the supporters of the BNP and Awami League candidates over taking control of the polling centre.Meanwhile, two persons, including a UP member candidate of Hazipur union, were injured with bullets in a clash between the supporters of the Awami League and BNP candidates at Arif Government Primary School polling centre in Begumganj upazila on Saturday.In Chittagong, two persons were killed in Patiya upazila and the other in Karnaphuli in violence during the polls.A member candidate was stabbed to death by one of his rivals in Barauthan union around 1:00pm.Deceased Md Yasin was attacked near Shah Mirpur Government Primary School voting centre, said Harun-or-Rashid, Deputy Commissioner (port) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.Supporters of a rival member candidate swooped on him with sticks and knives, he said. The victim was declared dead on arrival at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.In Patiya Upazila’s Ashia Union, Babul Shil, 50, was killed in a clash between rival member candidates, said sergeant of Patiya Highway Police Station.In Comilla, Kamaluddon, an independent chairman candidate, was killed in an attack by rivals in Bolarampur union under Titas Upazila, said Monirul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Titas Police Station.Eleven people, including a member candidate, were injured in clashes at Bayerpar centre of Bharalla union in Burichong and at Porimabad Government Primary School centre in Gobindopur union of Meghna Upazila.In Laxmipur, 25 people, including three with bullets, were injured in separate clashes in various unions of Sadar upazila over taking control over the polling centres and vote rigging.According to Sujan, a civil society platform, a total of 101 people have been killed so far in election violence in the grassroots level polls that is taking place in partisan manner.Meanwhile, police arrested 11 people from different parts of the upazila on charge of casting fake votes.In Brahmanbaria, several crude bombs were exploded when the supporters of two member candidates locked into a clash at Mohammadpur Government Primary School polling centre under Ramaril Union in Sadar Upazila.Police fired bullets to disperse them and brought the situation under control.Voting in two polling stations of Senbagh Upazila of Noakhali and Dewanganj upazila of Jamalpur district were suspended over allegations of ballot snatching and occupying polling stations.Besides, eight BNP backed chairman candidates boycotted the election in Brahmanbaria, Laxmipur and Noakhali districts.
