our people, including a woman, were killed and 50 others injured in a clash between two groups of Awami League supporters in Narsingdi on Thursday, ahead of the second phase of the union parishad polls on November 11.

Police and admin officials have meanwhile warned the Election Commission about more violence in seven districts of Dhaka and Khulna divisions centring on the polls.

At a meeting yesterday, a high official of police told the EC that there were possibilities of violence in some 90 unions in Dhaka Division — in Narsingdi Madaripur, Shariatpur and Faridpur districts.

Besides, the officials informed the EC that a sufficient number of police members and executive magistrates should be deployed to maintain law and order during the election, but they were facing a crisis of manpower.

With the four dead in Narsingdi, at least 19 people have been killed across the country in violence centring on the staggered UP polls, which began in June.

The clash took place in Alokbali union of Narsingdi Sadar yesterday morning between supporters of Delwar Hossain Dipu, AL chairman candidate in the union, and Asad Ullah, who has withdrawn from the election race upon instruction from AL high-ups. Asad is the general secretary of the party’s union unit.

Police and locals said the two AL leaders has a long-standing feud over establishing supremacy in the union. On October 26, two people were shot dead in another clash between the two groups.

The deceased were Amir Hossain, 45, Ashraful Haque, 22, Khairul Islam, 30, and Khushi Begum, 50 of Nekchanpur village of Sadar upazila, said Saugatul Alam, officer-in-charge of Narsingdi Sadar Police Station.

At least seven people have been killed in Magura, Rangamati, Faridpur and Dhamrai of Dhaka in violence ahead of the second phase of the UP polls on November 11 and the third phase on November 28.

Six peoples were killed during first phase of the UP polls in June and September.

On Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda said the EC was embarrassed at the election violence. He also expressed his concern over the matter.

YESTERDAY’S MEETING

The EC held the virtual meeting with all divisional commissioners, chiefs of police of all divisions and heads of metropolitan police except in Dhaka to discuss law and order ahead of the polls.

Deputy Inspector General of police (Dhaka Range) Habibur Rahman told the meeting that there were possibilities of violence in 90 unions of Dhaka Division.

In the division, 170 unions will go to polls on November 11.

Habibur said officials from the police, intelligence agencies and local administration were working relentlessly but “we cannot rule out the possibilities”.

Khulna Range DIG Kh Mahid Uddin said, “There are some people who always try to create anarchy centring elections in different places in Narail, Magrua, and Shailkupa [of Jhenaidah]”.

He said the range would find itself in a tight spot over manpower crisis while deploying law enforcers on the election day.

“We will need 11,080 personnel for election duty. We have a manpower of 14,000 people, but we have to continue our regular duty also … the chances of getting support from the headquarters are slim as the elections are taking places in 62 districts.”

The DIG of Barisal range also talked about the manpower problem.

Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir, Khulna Divisional Commissioner Ismail Hossain, and Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner Shafiqur Reza Biswas said there was a crisis of executive magistrates in their divisions.

While giving an example, Ismail Hossain said there were 14 magistrates for Kushtia and that they would not be able to deploy one magistrate in each union parishad.

CEC Nurul Huda then asked officials of the EC Secretariat to discuss the manpower issue with the authorities concerned and have it solved.

He also asked election officials to take “brave steps” to check any untoward incidents over the polls.

“If any returning officials feel that elections need to be stop at any place, we will stop it,” he said.

“Except some tension in Dhaka and Khulna division, the situation in all other division appears to be calm. We almost have quelled the situation in Khulna. But we will need to identify the pockets in Dhaka division where there is still some tension. We must remain alert,” the CEC said.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury asked all election officials to create a level-play field for all candidates. “Independent candidates are becoming victim of election violence,” he said.

by Mohiuddin Alamgir in The Daily Star,Nov 05,2021
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/elections/news/pre-polls-clashes-4-more-die-more-violence-feared-2222291