Songbad Weekly 24 English:
violence is not stopping in the ongoing Union Parishad (UP) elections. The UP election has turned violent. Despite the threat of violence in Dhaka and Khulna divisions in the field administration meeting with the Election Commission (EC), the death toll has not decreased. On the contrary, the death march is getting heavier in one violence after another.
After the meeting last Thursday, 6 people were killed in both the divisions. So far, 30 people have been killed and more than 400 injured in the UP polls. Most of the casualties were Trinamool Awami League leaders and activists. He was killed in election violence in Gangni, Meherpur last Monday. In this incident, besides recovering domestic weapons, the members of the law enforcement forces have detained 12 people.
Concerned and embarrassed by the incident, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda himself. "The loss of life is tragic," he said. Instructions have been given to take legal action against those involved in each incident. If necessary, the UP vote will be canceled and the election will be stopped.
EC officials say that even if there are other candidates or independent candidates in the election, they are the ones who are in power in the polling station. Awami League's opponent in the vote is Awami League. The law enforcement agencies are also in control of the conflict between the ruling party and itself. The situation is getting out of control in some places as both sides are strong locally. Again, due to the goodwill of both sides of the law enforcement agencies, no action is being taken to prevent violence.
Elections will be held on November 11 in 648 unions of the second phase and on November 28 in 1,001 unions of the third phase. With the election looming, the clapping of arms is also on the rise in the districts. Almost every day there are chases and counter-chases and bloody clashes. Violence is on the rise as election day approaches. The voting environment is being severely disrupted. Awami League nominees have been elected without voting in more than two hundred UPs due to coercion.
The BNP does not have the party symbol in the field for the post of chairman in the election. The Awami League has given a single candidate nominated by the party. Awami League leaders are contesting as independent candidates in most places without getting nomination. Occupying the electoral field is involved in conflict and violence. Six people lost their lives in the first phase of UP elections. Since then, 24 people have been killed in the ongoing second and third phase.
If you want to know the cause of this violence, Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Md. Shahdat Hossain Chowdhury told Ittefaq that these incidents are giving birth to political and social degradation. However, the intolerant mentality of the candidates and political party workers is largely responsible for this violence. Political party workers and candidate supporters must be tolerant in elections. Violence will decrease if political party workers are restrained. He said that political parties and candidates have a big role to play in reducing violence.
Concerned about taking effective measures to control the violence in the UP polls, the Election Commission held a meeting with top officials at the field level last Thursday. During the meeting, the DIG of Dhaka Range and the Divisional Commissioner of Khulna expressed their fears of violence in the department. That fear came true. During the meeting 4 people were killed and 30 injured in Narsingdi. The attack took place at around 5 am on Thursday in Nekjanpur village of Alokbali union in Sadar upazila.
Abdur Rashid Mollah, 33, son of late Abdul Jalil Mollah of Machimpur area of Murapara, was shot dead in Rupganj on Saturday. He was shot in the right ear with a shotgun. Last Monday, due to previous animosity, his cadres led by opposition candidate Atiyar Rahman hacked to death Jaharul (56) and Sahadul (55), cousins of incumbent Ajmeen Hossain. As a result of this clash, 10 people from both sides including the present member Ajmain Hossain were injured.
Our Meherpur correspondent and Gangni correspondent said that the incident took place at around 9 am on Monday in the middle of Laxminarayanpur Dhala village in Gangni upazila. The deceased were identified as Jaharul and Sahadul Apan. They are the sons of the late Sultan Fakir.
Jaharul's wife Cephali Khatun (45), daughter Champa Khatun (18), Saharul's daughter Subarna Khatun, current UP member Ajmain Hossain Tutul and 10 others from both sides were injured. The injured have been shifted to Gangni Upazila Health Complex and Kushtia Medical College.
Incumbent member Ajmeen Hossain Tutul (Rooster) and former member and general secretary of Upazila Krishka League Atiyar Rahman (Football) are contesting for the post of member in Kathli Union Ward No. 7 Laxminarayanpur Dhala village of Gangni Upazila.
With the death of two siblings, the whole family became male. The accused in the incident is Atiyar Rahman Gangni, general secretary of Krishka League. He is also the main accused in the murder case of Enamul Haque Nailu, brother of current UP member Ajmeen Hossain.
A local eyewitness said on condition of anonymity that a group of 15-16 people including Atiyar attacked Jaharul and Sahadul with various local weapons. During this time there were major clashes between the two sides. Jaharul and Sahadul died on the spot in the clash.
Locally, the current UP member Ajmain Hossain Tutul is more popular. In addition, there has been a long-running conflict between the two sides over dominance. Due to that conflict, Enamul Haque Nailu was hacked to death by the people of Atiyar in 2016. The main accused is Atiyar Rahman. Earlier in 2009, Ajmeen's brother Sentu was also killed by Atiyar's men.
Subarna Khatun, daughter of the deceased Sahadul, said that when the people of the present member Ajmain Hossain Tutul went to seek votes in the morning, the people of Atiyar Rahman attacked them.
Upon receiving the information, Meherpur Superintendent of Police Rafiul Alam, Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Jamirul Islam, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Circle) Apu Sarwar, Gangni Police Station OC Bazlur Rahman, DB OC Zulfiqar Ali and other police unit officials visited the spot. Police raided various places in the village and detained 12 people, including Mohabbat Hossain, brother of UP member candidate Atiyar Rahman, for preliminary questioning. Additional police have been deployed in the area. The situation in the area is tense.
Separately, a RAB team led by ASP Tareq Anam Banna of Gangni RAB-6 camp also recovered 11 sharp weapons, two tetas, a spear and three machetes used in the clash from the house of Atiyar Rahman's brother.
Gangni Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Bazlur Rahman said the two bodies were sent to Meherpur General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Police have been deployed at the spot. The current situation is under control. Twelve people have been taken to the police station for questioning. If anyone's involvement is found, they will be shown detained.
Meherpur Superintendent of Police Rafiul Alam said the investigation has started. Different units of police are working. Details can be said subject to investigation.
EC dependent on local administration! The Election Commission (EC) has left control of the Union Parishad vote to the local administration. The Commission, which has immense power, does not have control over the polling station. Because the local administration has always assured the EC with the message that 'fair and peaceful environment' is maintained.
Despite strict instructions from the meeting last Thursday to control the situation in the polls, the field administration is not abiding by it. The instructions to cancel the candidature and close the vote were not taken into account. The local administration has not been able to take effective action against either side of the Awami League. The other party or independent candidates are also helpless.
Embarrassed by the centralized vote, the EC said that politically the Awami League should come forward to control the situation.
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