Tension escalates as election nears
Barishal is currently immersed in a state of tension and unease as the scheduled city corporation election, set to take place on June 12, draws near. The atmosphere in the city has become increasingly volatile, prompting concerns among both residents and authorities about safety and security.
As per usual protocols, law enforcement agencies have issued warnings, threatening to take action against any outsiders (people who are not voters of the city) found staying back without a valid reason.
The city has witnessed a surge in conflicts, particularly between candidates backed by the ruling Awami League and those challenging them within the same party.
The tensions escalated when the election office of Tarikul Islam Juwel, an Awami League-backed candidate, came under attack by supporters of Kalam Mollah, a rival candidate from within the AL on Friday.
"Kalam had been engaging in voter intimidation, pressuring individuals not to vote for me, and eventually resorted to attacking my election office," said Juwel.
"Two of my supporters have been injured," he added.
Visiting the office yesterday, it was observed that the premises bore evidence of the attack, with furniture vandalised, and chairs scattered haphazardly.
Juwel complained to the returning officer's office over the matter and also filed a case with the airport police station.
However, Kalam denied the allegation, alleging that Juwel had orchestrated the entire attack as a means to garner sympathy and manipulate public opinion in his favour.
Contacted, Md Moniruzzaman, assistant returning officer of Barishal City Corporation, said, "We asked [Juwel] to provide some more evidence and he is now collecting it."
He further assured that appropriate action would be taken after a thorough investigation into the incident once the complaint is substantiated.
POLICE VIGILANT
Police have initiated special drives to identify "troublemakers", according to Md Saiful Islam, commissioner of Barishal Metropolitan Police.
"We arrested at least eight individuals affiliated with the BNP-Jamaat alliance for suspicious activities in different parts of the city," he said.
Furthermore, the commissioner issued a warning to outsiders who are not registered voters of the city, urging them to leave by midnight yesterday.
However, exceptions would be made for individuals requiring medical treatment or those engaged in official duties related to the election, provided they can provide valid proof of their circumstances.
The commissioner said that 106 out of the 126 polling centres have been marked as "important," warranting increased security measures. Regular polling centres will have an 18-member police team deployed, while the important centres will have a 19-member team present.
A total of 4,400 policemen, over 300 Ansar members, and around 285 APBn (Armed Police Battalion) members will be on duty, he added.
Furthermore, ten platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed on the day of the election.
Md Mahamudul Hasan, commander of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-8), also echoed the same.
Meanwhile, many non-residents began to gather at the city bus stand in Barishal. A middle-aged woman, who had travelled from Dhaka to support her brother who is a councillor candidate, was seen waiting in front of one such counter, visibly worried about the scarcity of transportation options due to the heavy rush of people.
The transport authorities confirmed the noticeable increase in the number of people compared to a typical day.
Meanwhile, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) team has already been spotted patrolling various streets in the city since yesterday.