Supporters of the boat candidate have accused the police-executive magistrate-BGB of attacking the counting of votes in the Baliadighi union parishad election in Bogra’s Gabtali Upazila. Law enforcement was fired to control the situation. There were casualties. However, different information is available about how many people have died.
The incident took place at Kalaihata Government Primary School in Ward 9 of Baliadighi around 6 pm on Wednesday (January 5).
According to law enforcement sources, supporters of the boat attacked and vandalized four vehicles of police, BGB, and Upazila Nirbahi Officer. Four people, including an Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), police and BGB members, were injured.
Law enforcement officers fired several shots to stop the violence, resulting in casualties. Ismail Hossain, a businessman living in the village, gave information about the deaths of four people but the police are still saying the number is one.
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According to Ismail, the deceased was identified as Kulsum (40) wife of Khokon Mandal, a resident of Madhyapara in Baliadighi Union. He was the election agent of Chhobedar, the reserved ward councilor candidate of that ward. The others are Alamgir (35) son of the late Maqbool of Madhyapara, Abdul Rashid (48) son of Ifatullah Pramanik of Paschimpara, and Khorshed Akand (65) son of late Sahir Uddin Akander of Uttarpara.
In this regard, Gabtali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Raunak Jahan said that even though the polling ended peacefully at Kalaihata Center, the supporters of the boat candidate obstructed the counting. At the end of the counting of votes in other centers, they said to announce the results of the vote.
He said supporters of Yunus Ali Fakir, a boat symbol candidate for the post of chairman, attacked the center when they objected. At that time, the boat marker workers started clashing with the members of law enforcement. In addition to the UNO vehicles, the boat marker workers also attacked four vehicles of the police and the BGB and vandalized them. Shajahanpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Asif Ahmed, who is in charge of the executive magistrate, and several members of the BGB and police were injured in the attack.
UNO Raunak Jahan said law enforcement was forced to open fire to bring the situation under control. However, the number of casualties could not be ascertained.
Bogra Superintendent of Police Sudip Kumar Chakraborty only confirmed the death of a man named Kulsum.