Violence erupts on first day of campaign

About a hundred people were injured, six of them by bullets, when supporters of Awami League's nominated and rebel chairman candidates clashed on Thursday night to thwart each other's campaign in the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections in Patuakhali and Pabna.

Violence broke out on the very day the election campaign started.

Election to 738 UPs, out of around 4,200, will be held on March 22.

In Patuakhali, 75 people were wounded as rival groups attacked each other in Rangabali and Baufal upazilas.

Five of the injured were sent to Charfession upazila health complex in Bhola, while two of them were taken to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

In Rangabali upazila, the meeting of AL's  nominated candidate Md Hanif Mia in Charmontaj UP was attacked by rebel candidate Md Nazmul Huda around 8:00pm on Thursday at Charbestin, about 20km from the upazila headquarters.

Police and locals said Hanif was holding a meeting on the field of Tila mosque when 25-30 people led by his rival Nazmul attacked it.

Attackers used sharp weapons, sticks, and bricks and set fire to five motorbikes and vandalised three more on the spot, they said. About 50 people of both groups were injured. Of them, Hanif's five supporters were sent to Charfession upazila health complex in Bhola in critical condition.

Responding to the attack, Hanif's men ransacked two election campaign offices of Nazmul in Nalua Bazar and Charbestin around 11:00pm.

Hanif said, "We were holding a peaceful meeting when my rival candidate with his men attacked us."

The rebel candidate, Nazmul, was not available for comments as his phone was switched off.

Officer-in-Charge of Rangabali Shamsul Arefin said police brought the situation under control.

In Baufal, at least 25 people suffered injuries in a clash between the supporters at Nawmala union.

Local residents and police said a meeting of the rebel chairman candidate, Md Shahjada Howlader, was attacked by 50-60 alleged supporters of AL's nominated candidate Kamal Hossain.

Attackers vandalised at least five motorbikes.

In response, Shahjada's men attacked Kamal's two loyalists Dhalai Howlader and Maleq Howlader.

The counter-attack triggered a further attack, when the supporters of AL's nominee Kamal vandalised six houses of the supporters of his rival.

Baufal police rushed in around 11:30pm and brought the situation under control, said OC Masuduzzaman.

PABNA

In Bera upazila, at least 20 people were injured, six of them by bullets, in a clash between the supporters of AL's nominated candidate Korban Ali and rebel candidate Nasir Hossain around 11:30pm Thursday.

The nominated candidate claimed that his rival's men attacked his supporters first, triggering a clash.

Both groups used firearms and sharp weapons.

Of the injured were candidate Korban Ali and his supporters, all hit by shotgun pellets.

The six were taken to Pabna Medical College Hospital.

OC of Aminpur Police Station Tajul Islam said tension was prevailing in the area and both groups were preparing to attack each other but police sent reinforcements to prevent violence.

The two groups lodged written complaints, he said.