Mayhem in Kalkini

An independent mayoral candidate of Madaripur's Kalkini municipality was picked up by police and then sent to Dhaka to meet a top leader of the ruling Awami League, the candidate alleged.

Moshiur Rahman alias Sabuj, a former president of Kalkini unit Chhatra League who decided to fight with coconut tree symbol in the upcoming mayoral polls, made the statement as he returned home around 4:00am yesterday, 11 hours after he went missing.

The superintendent of Madaripur police called Sabuj over phone and sent officer-in-charge of Kalkini Police Station to take him along, the victim alleged.

Later, the SP took him to Dhaka to meet the ruling party leader who is also a minister now, he added.

He said, "Suddenly, Mohammad Mahbub Hasan, superintendent of police (SP) in Madaripur asked me to meet him on Saturday afternoon. He also sent Nachiruddin Mridha, officer in-charge (OC) of Kalkini Police Station to me.

"I got in the OC's car and went to the SP office. After going to the SP office, the SP picked me up in his car and took me to Dhaka."

Responding to a question, he told the journalists that the minister asked him to accept the party's decision and work for the Awami League candidate SM Hanif.

"I was also asked to withdraw from the election," he said.

Sabuj also said that he would not withdraw his candidacy following the direction of the minister as he did not want the party's nomination and decided to fight on behalf of the people.

Contacted, SP Hasan said, "Sabuj came to my office to talk about some election-related issues. Later, he went to Dhaka to his own. We cooperated with him as he left."

Meanwhile, as the news of Sabuj's disappearance after getting into a police van spread, his supporters took position in front of the police station from Saturday evening.

They staged protests, set fire on the roads, and vandalised local shops.

At one point, they locked into a clash with the supporters of the AL nominated candidate SM Hanif.

At least 100 people were injured in the three-hour-long clash in the municipality. Sounds of hand grenade and gunshots were also heard during the clash.

Police brought the situation under control around 8:30pm on Saturday.

Of the injured, two were sent to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital as their wounds were critical.

Tanvir Ahamad, resident medical officer of Kalkini Upazila Health Complex, said, "A total 56 people were admitted to the complex between 6:30pm Saturday and 2:00am Sunday."