2nd phase polls violence kills 5

At least five people were killed and several others injured in clashes in different parts of the country during the second phase union parishad election on Thursday.

 

The deceased were identified as Sanaullah, Ibrahim and Jamal, of Sandwip upazila of Chittagong, Rafiqul Islam,50, of Shyampur union of Melandah upazila in Jamalpur, Shuva, 10, son of Halim of Dhalikandi village in Keraniganj upazila, Dhaka.

 

In Chittagong, three people were killed and seven people injured in a clash at Char Bauria union of Sandwip upazila.

 

Executive magistrate Md Wahidul Haque said supporters of two member candidates of 5 No ward in the union locked into the clash around 3:30pm over snatching ballot papers from the centre.

 

The supporters of both candidates opened fire which left two people -- Sanaullah, Ibrahim -- dead on the spot and seven others injured.

 

The injured were taken to upazila health complex where Jamal succumbed to his injuries.

 

In Jamalpur, supporters of the two member candidates locked in a clash at Uttar Baluchar Government Primary School polling centre around 11:15 am at Shyampur union in Melandah upazila.

 

Both the groups fought a pitched battle chasing each other. During the melee, a brick chip was hurled form one side that hit Rafiqul Islam, 50, leaving him dead on the spot, witnesses said.

 

Another person was also injured in the clash, they said.

 

However, officer-in-charge of Melandah Police Station Nasimul Islam said Rafiqul died of heart attack while waiting in a long queue for casting vote.

 

In Keraniganj upazila, a minor boy, identified as Shuva, 10, son of Halim of Dhalikandi village, was killed as he received stray bullets during a gunfight at a polling centre in Madhurchar during the balloting.

 

Quoting witnesses, officer-in-charge of Keraniganj Model Police Station Ferdous Hossain said a group of BNP supporters and another of Awami League locked into a clash over capturing Madhurchar Govt Primary School polling station around 10:20am. But he could not provide further details of the incident.

 

The injured were admitted to Jessore 250-bed General Hospital.

 

Meanwhile, 11 chairman candidates boycotted the election in eight union parishads in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong, Gazipur union of Chandpur, Chowara and Boropara unions under Comilla South upazila, Urfa union parishad in Nakla upazila under Sherpur and Jadabpur union under Jhenidah district on charges of various irregularities. Eight of them belong to BNP, two to AL (rebel), while one is an independent candidate.

 

 

With UNB input