United News of Bangladesh

The Election Working Alliance (EWA) on Sunday voiced deep concern over a sharp rise in violations of the electoral code of conduct, violence, intimidation, hate speech targeting women, and other threats as the polling day approaches. The concerns were raised at a roundtable titled “Ensuring a Violence-Free and Fair Election: Essential Responsibilities of the Election Commission and the Government,” organised by the organisation at the Jatiya Press Club. Presenting field-level data collected nationwide, Rafiquzzaman Ruman, head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Manarat International University, said at least 275 incidents involving code violations, violence, harassment, humiliation and attacks against women have been documented, supported by visual evidence. He said violations ahead of the election are geographically widespread and structurally repetitive, with incidents reported from more than 36 districts. Such developments  undermine the neutrality and equality of the electoral environment and threaten the safety of candidates, campaign workers, supporters and voters, he added. The discussion was chaired by former government secretary and EWA President Professor Dr Md Shariful Alam. Among the speakers were North South University Professor Dr Tawfiq M Haque, Professor Dr Waresul Karim Bulbul, former diplomat Abdul Motaleb Sarker and EWA Vice President Dr Golam Rahman Bhuiyan. Professor Dr Tawfiq M Haque said that while grassroots enthusiasm for the election is visible, several risks are emerging alongside it. To address these risks, he said, responsibility lies not only with the Election Commission but also with law enforcement agencies and political parties. Former diplomat Abdul Motaleb Sarker said the upcoming election is crucial not only domestically but also internationally. He stressed that all stakeholders in the electoral process, not just the Election Commission, must act responsibly, and urged the Commission to learn from past shortcomings and move quickly toward stricter enforcement. Several speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the recent role of law enforcement agencies, including their conduct toward media outlets, and called for professionalism and political neutrality. EWA President Professor Dr Md Shariful Alam said ensuring compliance with the electoral code of conduct is the Election Commission’s primary responsibility. “It is evident that the Election Commission is failing in this regard,” he said, adding that without a firm and impartial stance from the Commission, field administration and law enforcement agencies will not remain politically neutral. He said there is still time for the Election Commission to take a strong and neutral position and fulfil its constitutional duties.  

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday said there is no fear of any kind of violence surrounding the upcoming national election, as law enforcement agencies remain fully prepared to ensure a peaceful poll. “The law enforcement agencies are very well prepared to conduct a peaceful election,” he said while speaking to reporters after attending a law and order coordination meeting at the Rajshahi Prison Training Academy auditorium. The meeting was organised to ensure the smooth conduct of the national elections and referendum. He said regular operations are underway across the country to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections, adding that illegal weapons are being recovered through these drives. Interim govt to hand over power right after election: Deputy Press Secretary The Home Affairs Adviser said around one lakh Army personnel will be deployed nationwide during the election. In addition, about 5,000 members of the Navy, 37,000 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members, 4,000 Coast Guard personnel, 1.5 lakh police members, 9,000 Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members, and over 5 lakh Ansar members will remain on duty. He further said there is no such issue as “mob violence” in the country and that law enforcement agencies have no reason to feel fearful. Responding to a question, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said if any candidate violates the election code of conduct or engages in indecent behaviour, it will be disclosed. “If such actions are exposed in society, the candidate will naturally lose public support. Even then, if anyone crosses the line, legal action will be taken,” he added. EC changes polls code a week before elections The meeting was attended by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, Additional Inspector General of Police Khandaker Rafiqul Islam and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani. Senior officials of various election-related departments of Rajshahi Division and representatives of law enforcement agencies were also present in the meeting.  

A local leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has died after being injured in a clash between supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur district on Wednesday evening. Rezaul Karim, general secretary of the Sreebardi Upazila unit, succumbed to his injuries around 9:30 pm while on the way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, said said Sherpur Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan. Jamaat candidate for Sherpur-3 constituency Mohammad Nuruzzaman Badal said Rezaul Karim was  seriously injured in the clash at Jhenaigati Bazar area earlier in the evening. Following the incident, the district unit of Jamaat-e-Islami brought out a protest rally in Sherpur town. The party also held a press conference in Sreebardi, strongly condemning the killing and demanding justice for those responsible. The clash broke out between BNP and Jamaat supporters  around 3 pm over seating arrangement during a manifesto-reading programme, leaving at least 30 people injured, said witnesses. Six motorbikes along with over 100 chairs were vandalised and set on fire. The programme was organised by the upazila administration for rival candidates of the Sherpur-3 (Sreebardi-Jhenaigati) constituency at the Mini Stadium ground in Jhenaigati. Leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP blamed each other for the incident.

Eleven people, including a woman and a child, were shot and wounded during a clash between the supporters of two candidates of ongoing UP polls at Sonagazi upazila in Feni on Sunday. The wounded were identified as  child Asma Akhter, her mother Fatema Akhter, Mizan, Yusuf, Fakir, Shipon, Ismail, Siddique, Nabi, Mia Saheb and Raj. Witnesses said supporters of member candidate Omar Farooq Sajib opened fire when the supporters of another candidate blocked their way to get inside the centre of Charchandia Hossainiya Government Primary School at noon. Read: Hardware store staff killed by UP chairman & his men in Feni, 4 held Later, the injured were sent to Sonagazi Health Complex. Titu Ranjan Das, presiding officer of the centre, said no untoward incident occurred inside it. Additional Superintendent of Police Thoai Ampra Marma said the situation is under control now. Meanwhile, Sajedul Islam, acting officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Model Police Station, said police arrested 72 people on various charges during the election.

Miscreants torched an election campaign office of Awami League at Nalta union in Kaliganj upazila of Satkhira disctrict early Thursday. Police said the incident occurred around 3 am at Paschim Paikara of Ward 7 of Nalta Union. Read:Kushtia pre-poll violence: 2 suffer bullet wounds among 6 injured Abul Hossain Par, AL-backed chairman candidate in Nalta Union, alleged that workers and supporters of independent candidate Azizur Rahman set fire to the election office, photos of Bangabandhu and the Prime Minister at night. He alleged that some accused in a sabotage case have come out of jail on bail and have been threatening the workers and supporters of AL on behalf of independent candidate Azizur Rahman. However, Azizur Rahman, the current chairman of Nalta Union Parishad and an independent candidate, refuted the allegation saying that this heinous act was planned by AL-backed candidate’s supporters as a plot to harass his workers. Azizur Rahman also alleged that AL activists have been threatening people not to vote for anyone except for ‘Boat’ symbol. Read:Munshiganj election violence: 5 suffer bullet wounds “They deliberately set fire to the photos of Bangabandhu and the Prime Minister and circulated that the election office had been set on fire,” added Azizur. Golam Mostafa, Officer-in-charge of Kaliganj Police Station, said they visited the election office. No case has been filed yet in this regard, the OC added.

Five people were shot and injured during a clash between the supporters of two candidates of upcoming UP polls at Charkewa in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila on Sunday night. Police said the clash broke out in Khaskandi and Choto Mollakandi villages of the union between supporters of the Al-backed candidate Afsar Uddin Bhuiyan and the independent candidate Akhtaruzzaman Jibon around 7pm. Read:Jashore pre-polls violence: Injured man dies at DMCH Police said miscreants exploded cocktails and opened fire on their rivals during clashes. More than 50 houses were vandalized during the melee. Five supporters of the Al-backed candidate suffered bullet wounds in the clashes. Three of them were sent to Dhaka in critical conditions while admitted to Munshiganj General Hospital. According to Al-backed candidate Afsar Uddin Bhuiyan, a number of people, including his supporters Sharif, Saiful, Nazmul, Babu Haldar, Monir and Ramzan, were injured in the attack.   However, independent candidate Akhtaruzzaman denied the allegations and claimed that the AL supporters attacked his followers. Read: Post poll violence: Injured van puller dies in Barishal hospital Meanwhile, a farmer, Abdul Haque, 48, died of a heart attack during the clash, police said. Munshiganj ASP Suman Deb said additional police have been deployed in the area as tension is prevailing there due to the election violence.

A Union Parishad member was killed and three others injured in a clash between two rival Awami League factions over the Union Parishad (UP) election in Kaptai upazila of Rangamati, police said on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Sojibur Rahman. He was a member of ward no-5 of Kaptai union parishad. The injured are-Md Alauddin, 45, Md Salauddin, 55, and Abdul Jalil. Read: UP member killed: 3 held in Patuakhali According to locals, Sojib was a supporter of Awami League nominee and the current chairman Abdul Latif who will be contesting against Mohiuddin Patwari Badal, the expelled general secretary of local Awami League. Police said a clash broke out on Tuesday night between the supporters of the two candidates in the Notun Bazar area, where Sojib got critically injured after being hit by a heavy object. Four injured were rushed to nearby hospital where Sojibur Rahman was pronounced dead on arrival. The other three are undergoing treatment. Read: UP member, Rohingya man killed in Cox’s Bazar ‘gunfight’ Rowshan Ara Rob, Additional Superintendent of Police of Kaptai circle, said police have arrested four people in connection with the incident. The situation is under control she said. Earlier, Nethoi Marma, president and chairman candidate of Chitmaram Union Awami League in Kaptai, was shot dead by terrorists on the night of October 16.

A man was shot dead and two others were injured in a clash between the supporters of two councillor candidates during the Patiya municipality election in Chattogram on Sunday.

A councillor candidate, who won the election in the Sirajganj municipality, was stabbed to death by miscreants while celebrating victory on Saturday night.   The deceased was identified as Tariqul Islam, 35, a councillor candidate of ward 6 and son of Abdul Kuddus of Bhangabari area of Sadar upazila.   Bahauddin Faruki, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said, Tariqul was elected unofficially in the municipality polls held Saturday.

Three people including a policeman and an Ansar member were injured as a crude bomb was exploded at Gonipur Government Primary School polling station in Dagonbhuiya upazila during the municipality election on Saturday.