Houses torched as AL man wins by-polls
Our Correspondent, Barisal
An Awami League supported candidate won the by-election to the post of Ratnapur Union Parishad chairman in Agoiljhara, native upazila of Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Aziz. The election was held on Sunday. The by-election was held as Awami League leader and UP chairman Jahangir Serniabat alias Makhan Serniabat died in July. Jahangir Serniabat's Hosne Ara Begum own the election by scoring 4,588 votes against her nearest rival local BNP leader Anwar Shah who cored 3,106 votes. After declaration of the result, BNP activists assaulted Hosene Ara's election agent Runu Saha and supporter Miraj Monday night. BNP men also set on fire houses of some Hindu community members in West Ichhar Par and East Ichhar Par villages for supporting Hosne Ara, AL sources alleged. Yesterday morning, BNP activists led by BNP leader and UP member Bellal Hossain forced all shopkeepers in Mollar Bazaar to down their shutters. Police rushed to the area and controlled the situation. This has panicked minority community people in the area, AL sources said. Agoiljhara UNO M A Aziz and OC Sultan Ahmed said the situation is under control and general dairies were filed in connection with setting fire to houses.
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