Ahead of the Bangladesh elections, dozens have been injured in clashes between workers and candidates of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), National Citizen Party (NCP), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in several constituencies during canvassing.
Ahead of the Bangladesh elections, dozens have been injured in clashes on Sunday and Monday morning between workers and candidates of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), National Citizen Party (NCP), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in several constituencies during canvassing.
For weeks, Bangladesh has been in the grips of the cyclic political violence that has involved attacks on political and cultural centres, Indian diplomatic establishments, and religious minorities. The violence has cast uncertainty over the February 12 parliamentary elections.
On Sunday, at least 40 people were injured in clashes involving activists of BNP, its rebel candidates, and Jamaat over election campaigning in Mymensingh, Lalmonirhat, and Chuadanga, according to The Daily Star.
BNP and Jamaat workers clash on Sunday
In Mymensingh, around 20 people were injured when supporters of BNP and rebel candidates clashed. The police said that the violence occurred when supporters of Mohammad Morshed Alam, an expelled BNP joint convener and independent candidate, clashed with supporters of BNP nominee Fakhar Uddin Ahmed during door-to-door campaigning in the Batajhor area.
Mohammad Abdullah al Mamun, Aadditional Superintendent of Mymensingh, cited locals saying chases and counter-chases quickly turned into violent clashes. He further said that several offices of both groups were vandalised. Among them was a BNP upazila office and the office of Adi Khan (Shakil), member secretary of the municipal unit of Chhatra Dal, and a Jubo Dal office that was set on fire. Locals added that Morshed Alam’s office was also set on fire.
In Lalmonirhat, at least 11 people were injured in clashes between supporters of BNP and Jamaat.
The police and locals said that Jamaat female activists were canvassing when locals questioned their identity. They said that an altercation that led to a clash.
In another incident in Chuadanga, at least nine people were injured in a clash between BNP and Jamaat supporters in Alamdanga area.
Violence reaches Dhaka
Violence was also reported in Dhaka on Monday.
Prothom Alo reported that NCP candidate Ariful Islam Adeeb was attacked in Dhaka on Monday morning.
The report said that two members of the 11-party alliance were injured in the attack. The NCP blamed local BNP leaders and activists for the attack.
The attack took place when Islam was visiting an orphanage in Dumni Nurpara area of Dhaka, according to the report.
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