Municipality Polls: Violence claims two lives

At least two people died and three others got injured since Wednesday in clashes ahead of the municipality polls in Jhenidah and Barguna.

In Shailkupa, Jhenidah, two Awami League men were killed allegedly by rival groups on Wednesday night and early yesterday.

Liakat Hossain Baltu, 45, brother of councillor hopeful Shawkat Ali, and another councillor aspirant Alamgir Khan Babu, who were rivals, got killed in a space of four hours, locals said.

Baltu and his brother along with some of their supporters were returning home after a campaign rally around 6:30pm, when some 20 to 25 people attacked them with sharp weapons and left them critically injured.

Both of them were taken to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex. But doctors referred Baltu to a hospital in Kushtia. He died on the way around 9:30pm, said his nephew Mashiuzzaman.

Around four hours later, their rival Babu's body was found in a river.

Babu's family members said he left his house around 10:00pm and a few minutes later, he called a family member and said he was planning to go into hiding.

He then asked his family members not to open the doors to anyone.

Around 1:30am yesterday, one of his relatives found his body in the Kumar river in Debtala area.

Family members alleged that Baltu's supporters killed Babu.

However, some local AL men claimed that Babu might have died of cardiac arrest because he panicked after hearing about Baltu's death.

Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge at Shailkupa Police Station, said no case had been filed as of 6:00pm yesterday, said the OC.

The elections to Shailkupa municipality will be held on January 16.

In Barguna municipality, at least three people were injured when supporters of a mayor aspirant attacked the followers of the AL nominee early yesterday.

Police and locals said district Jubo League President Kamrul Ahsan Maharaj was running for mayor with the AL ticket and his opponent was expelled general secretary of Barguna Sadar AL Shahadat Hossain.

Around 12:10am yesterday, Shahadat's supporters attacked Maharaj in the Stadium area, leaving three people injured.

Police arrested three people after a case was filed, said Shahidul Islam, OC of Barguna Police Station.

Shahadat refuted the allegation, saying, "Three of my supporters were arrested on false charges."

Elections to Barguna municipality will be held on January 30.

[Our correspondents in Jhenaidah and Patuakhali contributed to the report]