Staff Reporter :
Despite the major opposition parties such as the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, boycotting the next general election scheduled for January 7, clashes and violence were reported from different districts, including the capital city, during poll campaigns.
Around 100 people have so far fallen victims to election campaign violence in Dhaka, Naogaon, Gopalganj and Jhenaidah districts.
In Dhaka-10 Constituency, at least 12 people have been injured as the supporters of Awami League locked in a clash during the election campaign of actor Ferdous Ahmed in the Hatirpool area in the capital.
The incident occurred around 2:30pm on Saturday, witnesses said.
The injured -Md Sohel, Shishir, Joni, Alif, Tushar, Mahi, Jalil, Uzzal, Anindra, Rasel, Ibrahim and Mosharrof – have been undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
DMCH Police Outpost In-Charge Md Bachchu Mia told journalists that 12 people were injured in a clash during an election campaign in Hatirpool area of Dhanmondi’s Central Road.
They are currently receiving treatment at DMCH, he said, adding, “We have informed the relevant police station about the matter.”
Mosharaf Hossain Raja, Vice-President of Dhaka city AL’s Ward-18 unit told journalists that Ferdous Ahmed was campaigning for the election when a dispute arose over who would stand by him, leading to a scuffle among the supporters.
In the Naogaon-6 (Raninagar-Atrai) Constituency, unidentified miscreants stabbed a campaigner of an independent candidate in Sahebganj rail station area of Atrai upazila around 10:00am on Saturday.
The injured was Chowdhury Golam Mostafa, 58, who is Awami League’s Atrai upazila unit vice-president, and election coordinator of the independent candidate and Awami League’s Naogaon district unit relief and social welfare secretary Omar Faruk.
He was admitted to Atrai Upazila Health Complex.
Locals detained one of the attackers, Shamim Hossain alias Sani, 28, and handed over him to the police.
Atrai police station officer-in-charge confirmed the incident.
Independent candidate Omar Faruk blamed the activists of the Awami League-nominated candidate and incumbent lawmaker Anwar Hossain for the attack. Anwar Hossain, however, denied the allegation.
In the Gopalganj-1 (Muksudpur-Kashiani) Constituency, at least 20 people including women were injured in a clash between the supporters of the Awami League-nominated candidate and an independent candidate in Shuashur village in Muksudpur on Friday.
Eight houses and three shops were also vandalised and looted during the clash.
The injured were admitted to Faridpur Medical College and various local clinics.
