No respite from attack, arrest
AL, BNP activists killed in Sylhet, Kishoreganj; Fakhrul’s election office vandalised in Thakurgaon, BNP candidate attacked in Patukhali
Arrests and intimidation of opposition leaders and activists and raids on their houses continued on Friday, just a day before the polling in the December 30 Bangladesh elections.
A ruling Awami League activist was killed allegedly by opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists in Sylhet Thursday evening while a BNP activist was killed allegedly in attack by AL activists in Kishoreganj Thursday evening.
The electioneering that began on December 10 ended at 8:00am on Friday while massive electioneering for AL-led alliance candidates was seen but there were rare campaigns by the candidates and activists of the opposition, including the Jatiya Oikya Front amidst reported arrests of and attacks on opposition candidates and their campaigners.
All the 39 registered political parties are participating in the 11th parliamentary elections to be held in 299 of the 300 constituencies.
Leaders of the main opposition alliance Jatiya Oikya Front, in which BNP is the major party, alleged that most of their leaders and activists were still on run because of arrests and raids while the AL activists continued attacking and intimidating their supporters to leave their areas.
The police, however, claimed that they were arresting only those wanted in criminal cases for peaceful elections.
Many BNP candidates alleged that they already became isolated from their activists and even passing time at their housed in a state of confinement.
Left Democratic Alliance in a release on Friday alleged that local AL leaders and activists were threatening and intimidating their activists and even candidates.
At least 44 candidates of BNP and its allies were attacked in which at least a dozen candidates were seriously injured and 18 candidates were now in jail while High Court disqualified BNP candidates for 23 constituencies.
BNP claimed that 64 of their candidates were attacked since beginning of electioneering while their activists continued to be prosecuted and arrested.
After the announcement of the election schedule on November 8, at least 10 AL activists were killed in electoral violence — seven in AL internal clashes and three allegedly by rival BNP activists. Two others were killed during an attack on an election camp of Chattogram Hill Tracts-based United Peoples Democratic Front candidate in Khagrachari.
Amid violence and attacks on opposition, the Election Commission deployed military troops on December 24 but the opposition alleged that the deployment made no difference.
At a briefing at its central office in Dhaka on Friday, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that nine of their activists were killed and 13,252 were injured in 2,896 attacks on the BNP and Jatiya Oikya Front since announcement of the election schedule.
He claimed that so far 10,329 of their activists were arrested and 844 ‘fictitious and false cases’ were filed against them during the time.
He said that 38 cases were lodged against BNP activists and 1,127 of their leaders and activists were arrested across the country only on December 27
AL joint general secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, at a briefing at political office of the party president at Dhanmandi 3 on Friday said that six AL leaders and activists were killed by BNP, Jamaat and Oikya Front activists in the past 18 days of electioneering while more than 400 leaders and activists were injured.
He claimed that several hundred election offices of the Awami League were ransacked and more than 80 vehicles were set on fire during the time.
Democratic Left Alliance in a release alleged that its candidate for Rajshshi 1 and Socialist Party of Bangladesh leader Alfaz Hossain Juboraj was picked up by plainclothes early Friday and physically tortured in presence of Manjur Elahi Chowdhury, brother of AL candidate Omar Faruque Chowdhury. He was released with an undertaking that he would appoint AL activists as his polling agents.
New Age correspondent in Thakurgaon reported that a election office of BNP secretary general and candidate for Thakurgaon 1 Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was vandalised allegedly by AL activists in the district town early Friday when three BNP activists were injured.
Local BNP leaders alleged that some AL activists by motorbikes launched the attack.
They said that 32 BNP activists were arrested in fictitious cases in the past 24 hours.
New Age Staff correspondent in Sylhet reported that AL activist Kayes Ahmad, 35, of Nalkhat village under sadar upazila and expatriate in Kuwait, was killed reportedly in attack by BNP activists at his village Thursday evening.
The family alleged that Kayes locked in an altercation with his neighbours Abdul Barik and Abdul Tarik, supporters of BNP candidate Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, as he tried to distribute leaflets of AL candidate for Sylhet 1 Abdul Momen at their houses.
They alleged that the BNP supporters attacked Kayes and left him dead on the spot.
Jalalabad police officer-in-charge Harunur Rashid said that the victim’s family filed a case with his police station and they arrested Abdul Barik and his wife Piara Begum.
In Kishoreganj, Sararchar union BNP vice-president Shahidul Islam Shahid was killed in an attack by AL activists in presence of police at the house of BNP candidate for Kishoreganj 5 Sheikh Mujibor Rahman Iqbal at Bajitpur Thursday evening, alleged BNP joint-secretary general Rizvi.
Neither the Bajitpur police station officer-in-charge nor the inspector (investigation) could be reached for comments after several attempts on Friday.
Thakurgaon sadar police station officer-in-charge Asikur Rahman said they went to the spot and found no attackers.
New Age correspondent in Barishal reported that police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel raided the house of BNP candidate for Barishal 1 Zahir Uddin Swapan at village Sharikal under Gaurnadi upazila and arrested at least 20 activists without any warrant of arrest.
Gaurnadi police inspector (investigation) Mahbubur Rahman claimed that they arrested the 20 after on information about a meeting for sabotage.
The BNP candidate alleged that the joint forces raided his house for two hours since 2:00am and his activists came to his house for guidelines for performing duty as his polling agents.
‘How is it possible to conduct a free and fair election now,’ he asked and alleged that he could not go out of his house for electioneering due to obstacle by the police and AL activists.
New Age correspondent in Khulna reported that police arrested Sheikh Mosharrof Hossain, the chief election agent for BNP candidate for Khulna 3 Rakibul Islam Bokul, city Juba Dal general secretary Nazmul Hasan Sagar and Terokhada upazila BNP president Kawsar Chowdhury on Friday.
BNP candidate for Khulna 2 Nazrul Islam Manju at a briefing alleged that police were conducting mass arrests and raids at BNP activists’ houses in the district.
New Age correspondent in Satkhira reported that four BNP and Jamaat activists were arrested with forged currency notes worth Tk 39,000 in Satkhira on Friday.
New Age correspondents, quoting police, reported that police arrested 20 BNP activists in Feni, 8 Jamaat activists, including Sherpur upazila parishad chairman Dabibur Rahman, in Bogra, BNP leader Jane Alam Bulu in Lalmonirhat, Dharmapasha upazila chairman and BNP leader Abdul Motaleb Khan in Sunamganj and four including Kishoreganj upazila parishad vice-chairman and BNP leader ANM Ruhul Amin in Nilphamari.
New Age correspondent in Tangail reported that BNP candidate for Tangail 3 Luthfor Rahman Khan Azad at a press conference Friday evening demanded withdrawal of Ghatail police officer-in-charge and Dholapara police outpost in-charge alleging that they were threatening BNP polling agents asking them to join AL or to face arrest in false cases.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia, after visiting Willes Little Flower School polling centre in the capital, told reporters on Friday that none was arrested in the capital without any specific allegation and warrants.
New Age Correspondent in Patuakhali reported that a group of 10-12 people chased, assaulted and threw eggs at former AL lawmaker and BNP candidate for Patuakhali 3 Golam Maula Rony and his two companions Friday evening near his house at Ulania Bazaar under Galachipa upazila when he came out of a mosque after saying his Magrib prayer.
Galachipa police station officer-in-charge Akhter Morshed said that the BNP candidate informed him about the incident.
A ruling Awami League activist was killed allegedly by opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists in Sylhet Thursday evening while a BNP activist was killed allegedly in attack by AL activists in Kishoreganj Thursday evening.
The electioneering that began on December 10 ended at 8:00am on Friday while massive electioneering for AL-led alliance candidates was seen but there were rare campaigns by the candidates and activists of the opposition, including the Jatiya Oikya Front amidst reported arrests of and attacks on opposition candidates and their campaigners.
All the 39 registered political parties are participating in the 11th parliamentary elections to be held in 299 of the 300 constituencies.
Leaders of the main opposition alliance Jatiya Oikya Front, in which BNP is the major party, alleged that most of their leaders and activists were still on run because of arrests and raids while the AL activists continued attacking and intimidating their supporters to leave their areas.
The police, however, claimed that they were arresting only those wanted in criminal cases for peaceful elections.
Many BNP candidates alleged that they already became isolated from their activists and even passing time at their housed in a state of confinement.
Left Democratic Alliance in a release on Friday alleged that local AL leaders and activists were threatening and intimidating their activists and even candidates.
At least 44 candidates of BNP and its allies were attacked in which at least a dozen candidates were seriously injured and 18 candidates were now in jail while High Court disqualified BNP candidates for 23 constituencies.
BNP claimed that 64 of their candidates were attacked since beginning of electioneering while their activists continued to be prosecuted and arrested.
After the announcement of the election schedule on November 8, at least 10 AL activists were killed in electoral violence — seven in AL internal clashes and three allegedly by rival BNP activists. Two others were killed during an attack on an election camp of Chattogram Hill Tracts-based United Peoples Democratic Front candidate in Khagrachari.
Amid violence and attacks on opposition, the Election Commission deployed military troops on December 24 but the opposition alleged that the deployment made no difference.
At a briefing at its central office in Dhaka on Friday, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that nine of their activists were killed and 13,252 were injured in 2,896 attacks on the BNP and Jatiya Oikya Front since announcement of the election schedule.
He claimed that so far 10,329 of their activists were arrested and 844 ‘fictitious and false cases’ were filed against them during the time.
He said that 38 cases were lodged against BNP activists and 1,127 of their leaders and activists were arrested across the country only on December 27
AL joint general secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, at a briefing at political office of the party president at Dhanmandi 3 on Friday said that six AL leaders and activists were killed by BNP, Jamaat and Oikya Front activists in the past 18 days of electioneering while more than 400 leaders and activists were injured.
He claimed that several hundred election offices of the Awami League were ransacked and more than 80 vehicles were set on fire during the time.
Democratic Left Alliance in a release alleged that its candidate for Rajshshi 1 and Socialist Party of Bangladesh leader Alfaz Hossain Juboraj was picked up by plainclothes early Friday and physically tortured in presence of Manjur Elahi Chowdhury, brother of AL candidate Omar Faruque Chowdhury. He was released with an undertaking that he would appoint AL activists as his polling agents.
New Age correspondent in Thakurgaon reported that a election office of BNP secretary general and candidate for Thakurgaon 1 Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was vandalised allegedly by AL activists in the district town early Friday when three BNP activists were injured.
Local BNP leaders alleged that some AL activists by motorbikes launched the attack.
They said that 32 BNP activists were arrested in fictitious cases in the past 24 hours.
New Age Staff correspondent in Sylhet reported that AL activist Kayes Ahmad, 35, of Nalkhat village under sadar upazila and expatriate in Kuwait, was killed reportedly in attack by BNP activists at his village Thursday evening.
The family alleged that Kayes locked in an altercation with his neighbours Abdul Barik and Abdul Tarik, supporters of BNP candidate Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, as he tried to distribute leaflets of AL candidate for Sylhet 1 Abdul Momen at their houses.
They alleged that the BNP supporters attacked Kayes and left him dead on the spot.
Jalalabad police officer-in-charge Harunur Rashid said that the victim’s family filed a case with his police station and they arrested Abdul Barik and his wife Piara Begum.
In Kishoreganj, Sararchar union BNP vice-president Shahidul Islam Shahid was killed in an attack by AL activists in presence of police at the house of BNP candidate for Kishoreganj 5 Sheikh Mujibor Rahman Iqbal at Bajitpur Thursday evening, alleged BNP joint-secretary general Rizvi.
Neither the Bajitpur police station officer-in-charge nor the inspector (investigation) could be reached for comments after several attempts on Friday.
Thakurgaon sadar police station officer-in-charge Asikur Rahman said they went to the spot and found no attackers.
New Age correspondent in Barishal reported that police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel raided the house of BNP candidate for Barishal 1 Zahir Uddin Swapan at village Sharikal under Gaurnadi upazila and arrested at least 20 activists without any warrant of arrest.
Gaurnadi police inspector (investigation) Mahbubur Rahman claimed that they arrested the 20 after on information about a meeting for sabotage.
The BNP candidate alleged that the joint forces raided his house for two hours since 2:00am and his activists came to his house for guidelines for performing duty as his polling agents.
‘How is it possible to conduct a free and fair election now,’ he asked and alleged that he could not go out of his house for electioneering due to obstacle by the police and AL activists.
New Age correspondent in Khulna reported that police arrested Sheikh Mosharrof Hossain, the chief election agent for BNP candidate for Khulna 3 Rakibul Islam Bokul, city Juba Dal general secretary Nazmul Hasan Sagar and Terokhada upazila BNP president Kawsar Chowdhury on Friday.
BNP candidate for Khulna 2 Nazrul Islam Manju at a briefing alleged that police were conducting mass arrests and raids at BNP activists’ houses in the district.
New Age correspondent in Satkhira reported that four BNP and Jamaat activists were arrested with forged currency notes worth Tk 39,000 in Satkhira on Friday.
New Age correspondents, quoting police, reported that police arrested 20 BNP activists in Feni, 8 Jamaat activists, including Sherpur upazila parishad chairman Dabibur Rahman, in Bogra, BNP leader Jane Alam Bulu in Lalmonirhat, Dharmapasha upazila chairman and BNP leader Abdul Motaleb Khan in Sunamganj and four including Kishoreganj upazila parishad vice-chairman and BNP leader ANM Ruhul Amin in Nilphamari.
New Age correspondent in Tangail reported that BNP candidate for Tangail 3 Luthfor Rahman Khan Azad at a press conference Friday evening demanded withdrawal of Ghatail police officer-in-charge and Dholapara police outpost in-charge alleging that they were threatening BNP polling agents asking them to join AL or to face arrest in false cases.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia, after visiting Willes Little Flower School polling centre in the capital, told reporters on Friday that none was arrested in the capital without any specific allegation and warrants.
New Age Correspondent in Patuakhali reported that a group of 10-12 people chased, assaulted and threw eggs at former AL lawmaker and BNP candidate for Patuakhali 3 Golam Maula Rony and his two companions Friday evening near his house at Ulania Bazaar under Galachipa upazila when he came out of a mosque after saying his Magrib prayer.
Galachipa police station officer-in-charge Akhter Morshed said that the BNP candidate informed him about the incident.
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