Staff Reporter :
Elections to some 204 Union Parishad and by-polls to Laxmipur-2 ended on Monday afternoon amid two deaths and some sporadic violence’s.
Two people were killed – one in Bhola and another in Barishal. At least 13 others were injured in different districts during the election.
On the other hand, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khondakar at the commission’s Agargaon office said the UP polls were yesterday held in peaceful environment.
The EC secretary expressed his satisfaction over the peaceful holding of UP polls. Except some few unexpected violence’s, he said the overall situation was calm, and free and fair friendly.
In Bhola, a man was shot dead in clashes between supporters of two candidates in the elections to Hajariganj Union Parishad in Charfashion upazila.
The victim was identified as Monir, 25.
At least two others were injured in the violence on Monday near the Charfakira Primary School voting centre. Witnesses said a clash between supporters of Yaseen and Yunus Shikder, Ward-5 member candidates, broke out around 11:00am.
Monir was shot during the clash and rushed to the state-run Charfashion Upazila Health Complex.
He later succumbed to his injuries, said Upazila Health Officer Shovon Bashak.
Police said they had to fire to disperse the supporters of the candidates. “Police had fired twelve rounds shot, but no one was killed in their firing,” said Bhola’s Superintendent of Police Md Kaiser.
In Barishal, an elderly man was killed and at least two others were injured in a clash between the supporters of two candidates during the election to Khanzapur Union Parishad in Gournadi upazila yesterday.
The incident took place at the election centre of Kamalapur Government Primary School under Khanzapur union around noon. The deceased is Mouje Ali Mridha, 64, son of late Kader Mridha.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Barishal Range SM Akhtaruzzaman said: “The clash broke out at the election centre between two groups when an under-aged boy tried to cast a vote.” At one point, Mridha was seriously injured by the opponent’s crude bomb.
He was taken to Gournadi Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctors declared him dead.
Local sources said that at least two more people were also injured during the clash.
Gournadi Model police Inspector Touhiduzzaman said that the police members had fired blank shots to bring the situation under control.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdur Rob Hawlader and Gournadi Model police station Officer in-Charge (OC) Md Afzal Hossain visited the spot.
In Patuakhali, at least 10 people including a chairman candidate were injured in an attack while the supporters of boat symbol tried to occupy a centre in Bauphal upazila.
Witnesses said the followers of the boat symbol attacked some agents of spectacle symbol for occupying the centre. The attackers hacked the agents indiscriminately.
Later, additional police and RAB members took the situation under control.
Spectacle symbol chairman candidate Mohiuddin Lavlu alleged, “After the incident, my agents have been driven away from the polling centre.”
