- Four killed & 200 injured in election clashes
- More than 150 arson, vandalism & looting
- Thousands of people have fled the area
Opposition parties boycotted the polls on January 7. For this reason polls were reasonably quiet. While there were some casualties in small-scale clashes and counterattacks, they were significantly lower than in past closely contested elections. All the unpleasant incidents that happened in this year's elections happened among the leaders and activists of the government party. The clash between 'Awami League's boat symbol candidate' and 'independent candidate among Awami League leaders' led to many casualties including loss of life before and after the polls. Even after the election ended on January 7, at least four people were killed and more than 200 injured in various places. More than 150 houses and businesses were vandalized, set on fire, and looted. Many are fleeing the area due to the fear of post-poll violence. Because the fear of conflict between the people of the winning candidate and his rival candidate in different places is not over yet. Last Saturday, an agent of an independent candidate Shaheduzzaman alias Palash (35) was hacked to death by miscreants in Noakhali-2 Constituency. He was the son of Jamal Uddin of East Mirzanagar village. Independent candidate Ataur Rahman Bhuiya said that Shaheduzzaman was a polling agent of the scissor symbol in East Mirzanagar Government Primary School Centre.
He alleged that the supporters of the local boat symbol have been threatening Shaheduzzaman since the election day of January 7 for protesting against fake votes and illegal influence in the polling station. He thinks that he might be killed because of this. Meanwhile, the post-election violence in Kushtia-4 Constituency Khoksha has taken an extreme form. Proponents of the boat and truck symbols clash regularly almost every day. The last attack was counterattacked by announcing on the microphone of the mosque. Allegations of house vandalism, cattle, and cash looting have been received in these incidents.
In Madaripur-3 Constituency (part of Kalkini-Dasar-Sadar) a tea shopkeeper named Emarat Sardar (45) was killed in a bomb attack on the victory procession of Eagle candidate. Apart from this, 10 people were injured in the clash between the boat and Eagle supporters in Katlapur of Savar Municipal area last Wednesday. A supporter of an independent candidate named Jahangir Alam (55) was killed in a clash in Pirojpur's Mathbaria election campaign. Alamgir Hossain, the brother of deceased Jahangir, said, "My brother went to the election campaign in support of Ashraf Ali, an independent candidate of the Pirojpur-3 constituency. At that time the people of Bashir Farazi with an eagle symbol attacked us with native weapons. My brother was seriously injured. When taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the doctor declared him dead. At least 25 people from different areas of Dhaka have been treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital due to election violence. Among them are Ansar VDP member Antar who was injured in the cocktail blast in Jatrabari's Syedabad, Abdur Noor, Saqib, Kamal, and Simon who were injured in the firing from Narayanganj Arai Hazar. Meanwhile, on the day after the election, boat supporter Ashraf was stabbed and injured by supporters of the independent candidate who won the election in the Failjana village of Chatmohar upazila of the Pabna-3 constituency. In this regard, Additional Superintendent of Police Masood Alam said that Ashraf was a supporter of the boat in the January 7 election. Due to this, the investigation is going on after getting a complaint that the opponent's people stabbed him. It is known that more than 350 independent candidates were present in the polling field in at least 220 constituencies in the recently held 12th parliamentary elections. Out of these 62 seats were won by independent candidates. The opposition launched this attack after losing the votes as expected. Post-election attacks, vandalism allegations against workers-supporters of more boat candidates. Candidates trying to win elections, gain influence in the area, and disputes between supporters were among the reasons behind the attacks.
In this situation, a great fear has been created in the country. Earlier, at least five people were killed in the clashes that started soon after the election schedule was announced. Its magnitude increases further after symbol allocation. According to the information of the police headquarters, 184 cases of attacks, clashes, vandalism, and vandalism were registered in different police stations of the country in the 12 days from 18 to 29 December around the elections. 215 people have been arrested in these cases.
The Human Rights Support Society has released a report on the post-election violence. According to their report, there were at least 40 incidents of attack, looting, and fire in Porahati of Jhenaidah, 45 in Kalkini of Madaripur, and more than 20 in Belkuchi of Sirajganj. Apart from this, Indurkani in Pirojpur, Kendua in Netrokona, Shyamnagar in Satkhira, Gazipur, Gaibandha, Dumuria in Khulna, Natore, Sonargaon in Narayanganj, Dhamrai in Dhaka, Daulatpur in Kushtia, Khoksa and Kumarkhali, Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj, Kalapara in Patuakhali, Paba and Parila in Rajshahi in various places of the country. There have been more clashes between activists and supporters. Deputy Inspector General of Police Headquarters (DIG-Operation) Anwar Hossain said that the police are alert to control post-election violence, attacks, and vandalism. Wherever clashes are taking place, police are present there to bring the situation under control and arrest those involved in the incident.
Additional Commissioner (Crime and Ops) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Dr Kha. Mahid Uddin said that those who are planning to show muscle power and commit violence as mercenary terrorists in the electoral area have already been brought under intelligence surveillance. RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin said that legal measures are being taken by collecting information through intelligence activities to control post-election attacks, vandalism, and violence.
ARS
