Voters scared as wild bees return, more aggressive

As many as 4,600 voters of a polling centre in Jamalpur-2 constituency (Islampur upazila) are worried about whether they will be able to cast their votes, fearing possible wild bee attacks during the polls today.

Earlier, a total of 24 beehives were spotted at Sajalerchar Government Primary School polling centre at Chinarchar village in Islampur Upazila.

After The Daily Star online published a report titled '24 beehives found at polling centre in Jamalpur, voters fear possible attack' on Thursday, Islampur upazila administration removed the beehives from the school building after a three-hour-long frantic efforts from 10:00am to 1:00pm on Friday.

But within an hour of removing the beehives, the wild bees started returning to the two-storey schoolhouse and its adjoining areas and built 12 fresh beehives at different spots of the building and two large trees on the school compound, former UP member Jabed Ali said.

The bees were driven away by pouring kerosene on each of the beehives first and then setting those on fire, local resident Mukhlesur Rahman said, adding that hours later those who survived returned to the location and built several beehives there again.

Seeing the deaths of their fellows the bees became violent and are now buzzing around the polling centre in attacking mode, he added.

“If any one hurls any object or brick chips on the beehives, they may become more troublesome and start hurting people waiting in queue for casting votes,” Vice-Chairman of Islampur Upazila Parishad Sufia Begum said.

If anything like that happens, the voters will face hurdles to cast their votes, she said, adding that the authority concerned should take necessary measures to avoid any untoward incident by the wild bees. 

Islampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mizanur Rahman said local administration will deploy a vigilance team to guard the polling centre.