Rajshahi tense for two things

Rajshahi city dwellers are in fear of violence centring on the June 15 city corporation elections due to use of money and involvement of local musclemen in the campaigns.
Both the mayoral candidates -- Khairuzzaman Liton and Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul -- have also expressed such concern and blamed each other in this regard.
Yesterday, supporters of two rival councillor candidates clashed as they came face to face distributing money among voters in Kazirganj, local people said. The incident left five people, including a councillor candidate, Rabiul Alam Milu, injured.
Police in the afternoon received complaints that supporters of councillor candidate Nuruzzaman Titu were distributing notes of Tk 500 at ward 19. But they left the scene by the time law enforcers reached there, said Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Goalia Police Station.
He said police had often got such allegations from rival groups.
Two days ago, the returning officer's office fined two campaigners of Bulbul for holding a long procession intended to show their muscle power.
Talking to The Daily Star, many voters in Meherchundi, Dharampur, Shalbagan and Lakshimur shared their concern over the mounting tension in the city.
"We don't expect violence. If anything like that happens in Rajshahi, it will have an impact on the national politics,” said Prof Abul Kashem, a teacher of Rajshahi University.
Against this backdrop, the police department has decided to flush out all outsiders from Rajshahi city known as a stronghold of Jamaat-Shibir.
Outsiders were asked to evacuate last night. Owners of residential hotels and students' dormitories were told not to allow outsiders in ahead of the polls.
"We are conducting raids in different areas. People, who are accused in criminal cases, are being arrested," Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Moniruzzaman said.
All police stations, patrol teams and intelligence agencies are kept on high alert to any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, the election office in Rajshahi declared risky 104 out of 137 polling centres. Of the risky centres, 71 are in Boalia where Bulbul and Liton reside.
The election executive committee of Liton on Tuesday gave a list of 91 BNP-Jamaat activists to police and the returning office. Branding them criminals, the committee demanded immediate arrest of all in the interest of peaceful elections.
"The BNP is with Hefajat-e Islam and war criminals and they are trying to create anarchy using religious sentiment against me,” Liton told The Daily Star.
The Awami League-backed candidate alleged that BNP-Jamaat men are distributing crores of taka to manipulate the elections. However, BNP-backed candidate Bulbul made similar allegations against Liton.
"Those who are in power are distributing money to influence voters," Bulbul said.
He added that activists of the ruling Awami League and its associate bodies -- Jubo League and Chhatra League -- were roaming around the city, brandishing firearms to take control over it.
According to him, the ruling party was planning to capture ballot boxes.