34 hurt in violence centring municipality polls

At least 34 people were injured in violence centering upcoming municipality polls in three districts since Tuesday evening.

Besides, police yesterday arrested 23 BNP men in Joypurhat allegedly for holding secret meeting to destabilise law and order situation.

Meanwhile, Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader's younger brother Abdul Quader Mirza yesterday said he did not face any pressure from the party's chief for telling the "truth".

In Narayanganj, at least 30 persons were injured in a clash between supporters of two councillor candidates at Tarabo Municipality in Rupganj upazila on Tuesday.

Of the injured, physical conditions of six are critical. They are now receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police said supporters of two councillor candidates -- Ruhul Amin Farazi and Anwar Hossain of ward No. 7 -- brought out electoral procession on Tuesday evening in Noapara area of the municipality.

As the two groups came face to face, they locked in altercation that later turned into violence.

The agitators also set fire to some vehicles and vandalised two garment factories, said Mahmudul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Rupganj Police Station.

Elections to Tarabo municipality will be held on January 16.

In Manirampur municipality of Jashore, at least two people, including BNP's mayoral candidate, were injured when they came under attack by the AL men.

The BNP's candidate Shahid Iqbal Hossain alleged that he saw some activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League tearing off his electoral posters at Jame Mosque area in the Manirampur municipal town around 10:00am yesterday morning.

When he protested it, the AL men became furious on him and his supporters. However, they could somehow escape the scene.

Around half an hour later, the BNP men were conducting electoral campaign in Rajganj area. At that time, the AL men attacked on them again, leaving Iqbal and one of his supporters injured.

Contacted, Manirampur Police Station's Officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam said they beefed up police patrolling in the area to avoid further violence.

However, Manirampur upazila Awami League general Secretary Faruk Hossain denied the allegations.

In Tangail municipality, the BNP's mayoral candidate Mahmudul Haque Shanu yesterday alleged AL men attacked on his electoral rally.

He came up with the allegations at a press conference at the district press club yesterday.

Shanu alleged that he was holding an electoral meeting at the town's Milkvita on Tuesday evening.

At that time, some 20 to 25 AL activists attacked on them leaving at least 2 persons injured. The attackers were wearing helmets and equipped with lethal weapons, he alleged.

Elections to Tangail municipality will be held on January 30.

In Joypurhat, police yesterday arrested 23 BNP men, including the party's district convener Shamsul Alam, on charge of holding secret meeting with the aim to make violence centering municipality polls.

Police said they gathered at Alam's office in the district town to discuss about execution of their plant to destabilise the law and order situation in the district.

After arrest, police sent them jail through a court, said Alamgir Jahan, OC of Joypurhat Sadar police station.

Meanwhile, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader's younger brother Abdul Quader Mirza yesterday said he did not face any pressure from the party's chief for telling the "truth".

Mirza, mayor of Noakhali's Basurhat municipality, yesterday came up with the remark while addressing an electoral rally in Char Parboti area.

He is contesting the January 16 Basurhat municipality polls for the mayoral post on the Awami League ticket.

Mirza has recently stirred up a debate in the country's political arena through some of his comments.

Our correspondents from Narayanganj, Benapole, Tangail, Dinajpur and Noakhali contributed to this report