The Election Commission on Tuesday asked law enforcement agencies to devise ways to effectively contain violence during the ongoing union council elections.
The commission issued the instruction at a meeting with the high officials of the law enforcement agencies as polls-related violence, including snatching of ballot boxes and intimidation of voters, had been escalating across the country.
According New Age correspondents, at least 10 people were killed and several hundred were injured in polls-related violence over past two weeks. The number of casualties, however, varied in press reports from 10 to 35.
The 36-day long second phase of elections to 3,813 unions in 414 upazilas began on May 31 amid stray clashes, intimidation and snatching of ballot boxes.
The chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda, emerging from the meeting with representatives of the law enforcement agencies, dismissed press reports that 35 people were killed in polls-related violence. The CEC said that law and order was generally good and polling in only 27 centres out of 56,000 was postponed. He said that a number of incidents relating to family feuds were reported as polls-related violence.
The home secretary Abdus Sobhan, IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, RAB director general M Muklesur Rahman and representatives from Border Guard Bangladesh attended the meeting.
The Election Commission at a meeting on January 24 criticised the home secretary and the police and Rapid Action Battalion chiefs for not taking action against ballot stuffing, snatching of ballot boxes and papers and assault of polling officers and magistrates during the municipal polls held between January 12 and 18.
Asked whether the commission in Tuesday's meeting had questioned the role of law enforcement agencies during local polls, election commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain said the commission was satisfied with the law and order.
'We asked them to be tougher to ensure security at polling stations during vote count as defeated candidates were behind most of the violent clashes,' said Sohul.
Polling in 191 unions was held on Tuesday while elections to 132 more UPs are scheduled for today.
New Age correspondent in Rangpur said that at least 30 people were injured in a clash between the supporters of a defeated UP chairman candidate and police in Mithapukur upazila Tuesday over the demand for cancellation of Chengmari union parishad election results. The injured were admitted to local health complex. A case was filed. Police arrested seven.
The police said the results of Chengmari union parishad election were announced on Monday night. Jatiya Party-backed candidate Abdul Khaleq was declared elected the chairman. Supporters of the defeated candidate, AL's Rezaul Kabir Tutul brought out a procession demanding cancellation of the results They snatched ballot boxes from presiding officer Saiful Islam and set them on fire. The presiding officer filed a case with the local police station against 110 including, Rezaul Kabir.
Rezaul's supporters besieged the UNO officer to press their demand for cancellation of the polls results and hurled stones. Police went into action after the protesters turned violent. Police and Border Guard members charged batons into the crowd leaving at least 30 injured.
Our correspondent in Gopalganj reported that at least 10 people were injured and the vehicle of an executive magistrate was damaged in a clash between supporters of a chairman candidate and police at a polling centre in Muksudpur upazila on Tuesday. The police fired shots in the air to disperse the crowds and arrested two persons on the spot.
Our correspondent in Magura reported that at least 25 people were injured and 10 houses were ransacked in post-polls violence on Tuesday at Panighata, Binodpur, Digha and Gullliya villages under Mohammadpur upazila in the district. The police arrested eight persons in connection with the incidents.
Our correspondent in Moulvibazar reported that two people, including a member candidate had been arrested for violating election code of conduct in Rajnagar upazila on Tuesday morning.
Source: New Age
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