Sayed Mohammed Ibrahim, candidate of Jatiya Oikyafront from Hathazari (Chattogram-5) came under attack on Wednesday afternoon, while he was campaigning at Forhadabad area of the upazila. At least seven people, including a woman, were injured in the attack, while five vehicles were vandalised.

Ibrahim said after being confined by ruling party men, he called up the assistant returning officer of Hathazari upazila, who later sent BGB personnel to rescue him.

But the daily report sent by Returning Officer Elias Hossen to Election Commission for the day (December 26), has no mention of the incident, saying instead that a peaceful environment was prevailing in the constituency.

This was not the first instance of violence being unreported. This newspaper has obtained copies of a few other daily reports where such discrepancies can be seen.

On December 15, at least 10 persons including Omar Faruk Sunny, son of BNP-led alliance candidate Oli Ahmed, was attacked at Keochiya union of Satkania upazila (Chattogram-14).

The report sent by RO for that day skipped over the incident in the same fashion, and claimed the situation to be peaceful and stable.

According to police sources, at least 24 persons sustained pellet injuries during an attack on the rally of Jatiya Party candidate Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury (Chattogram-16) at Chambol area of Banshkhali upazila on December 21. The RO's report, however says six persons sustained stray bullets in the incident. Two electoral camps of Awami League-led alliance candidate Didarul Alam from Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda) were burnt and vandalised at Gozaria and Bhuinyapara areas on the same day. But the RO's report termed the situation to be normal in the area.

Though attacks on campaigns became a regular phenomenon since December 10, which also flooded local and national dailies, the RO's reports mention the situation in almost all constituencies to be normal.

While contacted, the RO said these reports are confidential, and asked this correspondent how he obtained those and wanted to see copies.

“We send several versions of reports; I don't know which version you got,” he added.