Nightlong chaos of workers halts Rajshahi buses
Transport workers ran havoc over union elections in Rajshahi city throughout last night, halting commute to and from the district since this morning.
At least 10 people were injured and several crude bombs blasted, gunshots fired in the tripartite clash that involved police, our local staff correspondent reports.
Chaos broke out during vote counting of the triennial election of Transport Labourers’ Union of Rajshahi district after daylong voting yesterday.
Witnesses said, the factions of president aspirants Kamal Hossain Robi and Rafiqul Islam Rafiq clashed in Siroil bus stand area around 1:00am. They said, Robi group anticipated defeat and launched the attack first.
Boalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahadat Hossain Khan said ballots were snatched and the two factions engaged in clashes with sticks and rods. “We rescued the election officials.”
Election committee chairman Ankur Sen told The Daily Star that the assailants snatched ballots and attacked the election officials. “I and two of my associates were injured.”
Several crude bombs and gunshots were fired in the clashes between the two factions, said Md Dulal, a sub-inspector of Boalia Police Station. “Police rushed to the spot and took control of the situation.”
Police also said to have fired some blank shots to disperse the crowd. Last reported, additional police were deployed in the area and a tense situation was prevailing. The election officials were still inside the police station.
No buses were plying from the counters.
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