Noman Mosharef :
Despite stern warning from Prime Minister, the Awami League and AL-endorsed independent candidates are getting often in political brawl even in some case engaging in intra-AL activists fights, leaving at least four dead and hundreds injured in the country.
From December 18, the day of allocation of electoral symbols by the Election Commission, supporters of independent and Awami League-nominated candidates engaged in clashes within hours across the country.
Attacks were reported from at least eight constituencies between Monday (Dec 18) night to Tuesday nights(Dec 19) supporters of independent candidates blamed Awami League candidates’ supporters in all incidents.
A supporter of an independent candidate for Madaripur-3 constituency, reportedly stabbed to death by the supporters of Awami League (AL) candidate at Kalkiniupazila in Madaripur district on Saturday (Dec 23).
The deceased was identified as Eskandar Khan, 40, son of Amir Hossain, a resident of Bhatabali village under the upazila. He was a supporter of
independent candidate TahminaSiddique.
According to locals, Eskanadar was walking in front of his house in the morning. At that time, a group of the supporters of Awami League candidate AbdusSobhanGolap attacked him with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured.
He was taken to KalkiniUpazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor referred him to BarishalSher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital. He then, succumbed to his wounds around 12.30 pm on Saturday while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Awami League candidate from Narayanganj-3, Abdullah Al KaisarHasnat brought out procession on Dhaka-Chattogram highway. More than 100 motorcycles joined the procession, disrupting traffic movement.
Awami League candidate MA Latif also campaigned for election on the busy roads in Pahartali ward of Chattogram city, disrupting vehicular movement.
Supporters of independents and Awami League-nominated candidates locked into clashes in Jashore, Joypurhat, Pabna, Jamalpur, Kushtia, Natore, Tangail and Dhaka’s Savar on Tuesday that left several people injured. Attacks were also reported.
Besides, supporters of Awami League-nominated candidate ShamimHaque allegedly barred the campaign of independent candidate AK Azad in Faridpur and snatched his leaflets.
Three supporters of Awami League candidate in Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara) were arrested over an attack on a motorcade of independent candidate and current lawmaker EnamulHaque. The incident occurred at Namsore village under Dwippur union in Bagmaraupazila.
Lawmaker EnamulHaque alleged his motorcade was attacked by ruling party candidate’s supporters. AL candidate AbulKalam Azad, however, denied the allegation and blamed the independent candidate for the attack. He said a case will be lodged over the incident.
The supporters of independent candidate DewanSekar Ahmed Shishan reportedly set fire to five electoral camps of Awami League-nominated candidate Barrister NazimUddinJalil in Naogaon-5 on Sunday night (Dec 24).
Denying the allegation independent candidate and president of AL Naogaon municipal unit DewanSaker Ahmed said that the supporters of AL candidate NazimUddinJalil they set fire to their own election camps.
Three Jubo League men were injured by bullets after independent candidate SanwarHossain’s followers ‘opened fire’ on their election procession in Tangail’sSadarupazila on Sunday (Dec 24) night.
AL candidate Mamunur Rashid said that his supporters brought out a procession at night in Baghil. Suddenly, independent candidate Sanwar’s followers started firing on the procession, leaving three AL supporters injured.
At least seven people were injured in a clash between supporters of Awami League candidate and independent candidate of Patuakhali-4 constituency at Bortakia village in Kolaparaupazila on Friday evening.
Quoting locals, police said the supporters of the AL candidate MuhiburRahmanMuhib and independent candidate and AL leader MahbuburRahmanTalukder locked into an altercation over election campaign, leading to a clash.
Clashes have escalated among rival candidates in Chattogram-15 constituency, Satkania centering the 12th parliamentary election, scheduled for January 7.
Since the beginning of the campaign, clashes between supporters of Awami League candidate Abu Reza Mohammad NezamuddinNadvi and independent candidate MA Motaleb, a leader within the Awami League, have involved shootings and chases, escalating tensions.