16 injured in pre-poll violence

Sixteen people were injured in electoral clashes in Rajshahi and Barisal in last two days.
Our Rajshahi correspondent reports: Two activists of Awami League were seriously injured as BNP cadres attacked the procession of grand alliance candidate Omar Faruk Chowdhury in Rajshahi-1 constituency at Tikorpara village under Godagari upazila in Rajshahi on Saturday night.
The injured were identified as Zubol, 23 and Zahid, 50. The injured were admitted at Godagari Health Complex.
Locals said BNP cadres attacked AL leaders and activists when they brought out a procession at Tikorpara village at 11:00pm. BNP cadres attacked the AL procession with bamboo sticks and throw bricks when the procession reach in front of the BNP election campaign office. They also damaged AL election campaign office, banners, posters and electoral symbols.
Later, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. A huge number of police were deployed there to avert further incident.
On the other hand, at least 10 people were injured in a clash between the activists of grand alliance candidate Engineer Enamul Haque and independent candidate Sarder Amzad Hossain in Rajshahi-4 constituency.
The injured were treated at Bagmara health complex.
Our correspondent from Barisal adds: K M Shahidullah, commissioner of ward-12 of Barisal City Corporation (BCC) and panel mayor of BCC, was injured as Shafiqul Alam Gulzar, former district unit treasurer of BNP, who recently joined AL and also commissioner of ward-11, allegedly beat him centreing electoral campaign early yesterday.
The 16 pro-BNP ward commissioners of BCC in a press conference at a restaurant in the city yesterday said the attack happened following participation of huge number of people from the ward of Gulzar in an electoral campaign organised by Shahidullah.
Denying the allegation Gulzar said local people assaulted Shahidullah when he tried to use muscle power and black money in collecting votes.
Moreover, Kaisul Huq Raju, AL leader, son of late AK Faizul Huq and grandson of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, told the journalists that a group of BNP activists attacked his car at Rayer Hut yesterday noon.
Raju, Khairul Alam and another passenger of the car were injured in the attack. Later, Raju lodged a complaint with Banaripara Police Station in this connection.