BNP candidate for Kishoreganj-6 Shariful Alam and around 30 of his followers reportedly sustained bullet injuries during electioneering in Kuliarchar area of the constituency this afternoon.

Six cops were also injured in the incident, police said.

Talking to The Daily Star, Alam claimed police intercepted him when he along with his leaders and activists was campaigning in Kuliarchar area.

At one stage, police fired gun shots at the BNP leaders and activists leaving around 30 people including Alam injured, the BNP candidate claimed.

The injured were admitted to a local hospital where the condition of five of the victims has been stated to be critical, Alam said.

Contacted, Mohammad Nannu Mollah, officer-in-charge of Kuliarchar Police Station, said Alam along with a procession of around 12 to 15 hundred people was heading towards Kuliarchar Bazar around 3:45pm as part of his election campaign.

Fearing unrest in the area, police tried to halt the procession, but Alam’s followers, being enraged, started pelting brick chips at the law enforcers, he said.

At one stage, police were forced to fire blank shorts to bring the situation under control, the OC added.

Six policemen including a sub-inspector and an assistant sub-inspector were injured in the incident, he said.

Police also detained five people from the spot in this connection, the police official added.

Shariful Alam is contesting the election against Awami League candidate Nazmul Hassan and Jatiya Party candidate Nurul Kader Sohel.

Children in Jashore's Malopara village still have nightmares of people coming to attack them. And with the election on the horizon, panic has spread even among the adults.

It stems from their experience of the election day on January 5, 2014, when Jamat-Shibir and BNP men unleashed their fury in a series of mindless attacks on the locals. 

They vandalised 130 houses of the Hindu community and torched 10 more in Malopara because the villagers had dared to cast votes. The attackers also looted valuables from the Hindu houses, the locals said.

Although many of the Jamaat-BNP men involved in those attacks have been arrested or are  on the run, a sense of foreboding prevails, particularly among the women and children of the village fishing community living on the banks of the Bhairab river. 

At least two families of the village have sent their young women to their relatives' homes as the polls near.

“I tried to convince my wife to stay home, but she insisted not to take any risk. I gave in to her resolve and sent her to a relative's house in Coat Chandpur in Jhenidah on Wednesday,” said Laltu Sarkar, a local.

Sumoti Sarkar, 14, and Sathi Sarkar, 7, two daughters of his elder brother also accompanied Laltu's wife.

Now an eight-grader, Sumoti was then a class VI student when 300 to 400 Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men wielding sharp weapons and hockey sticks attacked Malopara in Abhoynagar upazila in 2014.

Some 600 Hindus, including women and children, had to flee their village and seek shelter on the other side of the river. While many crossed the river by boats, others swam across.

“Sumoti is so traumatised that she still has nightmares of people coming to attack us,” Kali Dashi Sarkar, mother of Sumoti, told this correspondent while visiting the village on Wednesday.

The hallmark of the attack can still be seen on the tin-roof of Sumoti's house.

That was the third and final attack of the day that came following a rumour that Shibir activist Abu Bakkar had been beaten and killed by the Hindus.

Asked why people still feared the attacks as Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men were out of the area due to police raids, a number of villagers said it was because some of those attackers still roamed around the area freely.

Besides, some attackers had now engaged with the local Awami League, they added.

Earlier, the Jamaat-Shibir men attacked twice, but the residents had managed to resist them from entering the village, said Bishwajit Sarkar.

In the first attack, Bishwajit and five others, including Shyamol Biswas, Kamal Sarkar, Sunil Biswas and Susil Sarkar were seriously beaten.

Their second attempt to enter the village was thwarted by villagers, locals said.

Abhoynagar police lodged a case naming 39 accused. After investigation, police submitted a charge sheet accusing 100 people 16 FIR names were dropped.

A number of villagers said many who took part in the attacks were not made accused in the charge sheet. Some of those charge-sheeted secured bails.

Bishwajit, general secretary of ward-9 unit of Prembagh union, said the government had rebuilt 46 houses and renovated 26 others.

The prime minister visited the village on January 23 that year and before her visit they were also brought under national grid while the government built a primary school after purchasing a piece of land. A temporary police camp was built in the village, but they want it to be a permanent one.

Bishwajit said now they wanted to meet the PM as some of their demands -- for a permanent police camp, creation of jobs, lease of a nearby water body -- were still not fulfilled.

Many incidents of violence and irregularities marred the voting in the fourth phase of the union parishad polls yesterday as four more lives were lost and scores injured in clashes across the country.

Meanwhile, two people were killed and at least 50 others injured in a clash between supporters of an Awami League candidate and police at Auchpara union under Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi where polls were supposed to be held yesterday.

The dead are Siddiqur Rahman and Jahidul Islam. Details of their identities could not be known until filing of this report early today.

Locals said the situation at the union had been tense for the last couple of days. The Election Commission on Thursday night postponed the polls in the union following allegations that local AL lawmaker Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4) was influencing the elections.

Although violence and irregularities were reported in many unions, a large number of voters turned up at the polling centres yesterday to exercise their franchise in the UP polls, considered the most competitive of all elections.

Like in the previous three phases of the UP polls, supporters of chairman and member candidates yesterday indulged in irregularities, including capturing polling stations, stuffing ballot boxes and casting fake votes in over 75 unions. Supporters, mostly of the ruling AL nominees, used firearms and sharp weapons during the clashes.

Some polling officials were also involved in irregularities. Eleven polling officials were detained on charges of committing irregularities. Voting at 51 polling stations in 37 unions was suspended due to violence and irregularities, according to EC officials.

The first two phases of the UP polls on March 22 and 31 saw deadly violence across the country that left 18 people killed and several thousand injured on the polling days. The third phase saw one killed, but numerous incidents of irregularities were reported.

Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), a civil society platform, has put the number of death at 71 in violence over UP polls till Thursday.

Elections to 733 UPs are slated for May 28 in the fifth phase while around 700 more unions will go to polls in the sixth and final phase on June 4, said EC officials.

Elections to 725 UPs were held on March 22 in the first phase, 639 UPs on March 31 and 615 UPs on April 22 in the second and third phases.

CLASHES CLAIM LIVES

In Comilla, a youth was hacked to death and at least 10 people were injured when supporters of two member candidates clashed outside a polling station at Madhabpur union of Brahmanpara upazila.

The dead, Tapash Chandra Das, 40, was a trader at Uttar Chandola village of the union. He left behind his wife and four children.

Witnesses said supporters of member candidates Sultan Ahmed and Mohammad Rezaul fought outside the Uttar Chandola Govt Primary School polling centre around 10:30am.

During the clash, some people attacked Tapash with sharp weapons, leaving him dead on the spot, said SM Badiuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Brahmanpara Police Station.

Voting was suspended at the polling centre. The presiding officer and seven assistant presiding officers were “detained for neglecting duties”, said police.

Presiding Officer Binoy Bhushan Nath said some people stormed into the polling booths at the centre, snatched the ballot boxes and started stuffing those. Some member candidates along with their supporters also entered the booths and started stuffing ballots that led to the clash.

In Thakurgaon, a teenage boy was killed and another man injured when police opened fired to disperse clashing supporters of two member candidates at Taldanga Majhkhuria village in Baliadangi upazila.

The dead is Mahbubur Rahman Poltu, 17, of Majhkhuria village in the upazila.

Aminul Islam, OC of Baliadangi Police Station, said supporters of member candidates Gias Uddin and Shah Alam got involved in a clash around 3:00pm.

At one stage, police fired shots at the unruly supporters of Gias Uddin when they tried to snatch ballot boxes from the polling booths at Taldanga Dakhil Madrasa polling centre. Mahbubur and one Nazim Uddin were hit by bullets.

Locals sent the two to Baliadangi Upazila Health Complex where Mahbubur died of his wounds. Nazim was later shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

In Narsingdi, a supporter of an independent chairman candidate was killed in an attack allegedly by the activists of the AL candidate at Paratoli union under Raipura upazila.

The victim, Hossain Ali, 60, went to cast his vote at Moddhanagar Govt Primary School centre, said witnesses.

When he reached the centre, supporters of AL candidate Masudur Rahman asked him to cast vote for “boat” symbol. As he refused to comply, the AL men got into an altercation with him.

At one stage, the AL men stabbed Hossain with a sharp weapon.

Hossain was taken to the upazila health complex where he died of his wounds.

In Sadullapur of Gaibandha, a man was killed when police opened fire on supporters of AL rebel candidate Rafiqul Islam last night.

The dead is Lebu Mia, 35, of Damdari village in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur.

Farhad Imrul Kayes, OC of Sadullapur Police Station, said supporters of the AL rebel candidate blocked the Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Dhaperhat Bazar area around 8:00pm, demanding announcement of polls results at the polling centres.

Trying to clear the protesters from the road, police and BGB men fired shots at them, leaving around 10, including Lebu, injured.

Lebu was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

In Raipura upazila of the district, three people were injured in a clash between supporters of an AL candidate and an independent candidate at Sreenagar union.

In Comilla, law enforcers detained four presiding officers at different polling centres on charges of involvement in irregularities.

A mobile court awarded Mobarok Hossain, presiding officer of Jugirhat Etimkhana polling centre, and four others six month's imprisonment each on charges of vote rigging before the start of the voting yesterday morning.

In Sherpur, a mobile court sentenced a presiding officer to seven days in jail and a member candidate to one month in jail over a “bribe deal" at Hatibandha union of Jhenaigati upazila, reports our correspondent.

Locals and police said Abdul Barik, presiding officer of Loykha Govt Primary School polling centre, went to the house of member candidate Saifuddin early yesterday for making an underhand deal.

Locals caught the two red-handed and handed them over to police.

Violence and irregularities were also reported in Feni, Madaripur, Chuadanga, Sylhet, Kushtia, Laxmipur, Chittagong, Munshiganj, Meherpur, Pabna, Natore and Jamalpur.

VIOLENCE IN RAJSHAHI

The situation in Bagmara upazila turned for the worse yesterday when the supporters of AL nominee Sardar Jaan Mohammad and party rebel candidate Shahiduzzaman chased and counter chased at Hat Gangupara Bazar of Auchpara union, OC Motiar Rahman of Bagmara Police Station told The Daily Star.

In the evening, several hundred supporters of Jaan Mohammad attacked two villages and vandalised houses of at least 30 supporters of Shahiduzzaman, the OC said.

When they were returning to Hat Gangupara Bazar firing shots in the air, police intercepted them. The unruly men attacked law enforcers, leaving seven cops injured, added Motiar.

Police then opened fire on the attackers to disperse them. A little later, cops found Siddiqur and Jahidul lying dead in the area.

At least 50 people were injuries in the incident. Eight of them were sent to Rajshahi Medical College while the injured cops were admitted to Rajshahi Police Lines Hospital.

JOURNOS ASSAULTED

Two journalists were beaten up allegedly by AL men at a polling centre at Barha union under Nawabganaj upazila of Dhaka.

Tapos Kanti Das, senior reporter of the New Age, said he along with photojournalist Indrajit Ghosh of the newspaper went to Agla Choukighata Janamangal High School polling centre yesterday.

When the two entered the centre around 10:40am, some people wearing badges of “boat” symbol intercepted them and asked them why they were seeking votes for “pineapple” symbol.

As the two introduced themselves as newsmen and informed that they knew none of the chairman aspirants, the AL supporters assaulted the journalists and drove them out of the polling centre.

BGB MAN 'COMMITS SUICIDE'

In Jamalpur, a Border Guard Bangladesh member “committed suicide” by shooting himself with his gun in a bathroom of an auditorium in Madarganj upazila town, reports our correspondent.

The deceased, 22-year-old Mahmudul Hasan, was a member of 35 BGB Battalion. He came to Madarganj to discharge polls duties, said Rampada Mandal, officer-in-charge of Madarganj Police Station.

He went to the bathroom around 4:00pm and shot himself with the firearm. He died on the spot. The reason for the suicide could not be known, the OC added.

Police sent the body to Jamalpur General Hospital morgue for an autopsy. 

As an independent chairman candidate in the ongoing Union Parishad polls, she does not want any extra favour; rather her only expectation from the Election Commission (EC) is fair polls.

However, Momtaz Parvin has enough reasons to be worried over the UP polls, which have already witnessed deadly violence in the previous four phases. She fears her rival candidate may unleash terror and occupy polling stations on the election day on May 28.

"I just want a peaceful atmosphere where voters will get equal chance to cast their votes fearlessly,” said Momtaz Parvin, who is contesting at Bhawal union under Saltha upazila in Faridpur.

She was talking to The Daily Star at the EC Secretariat yesterday after filing an application with the commission seeking necessary steps to ensure a congenial atmosphere for fair polling.

“Supporters of my rival candidate are intimidating voters and planning to hire armed criminals on the voting day to occupy poll centres. I want the commission to take necessary measures to prevent any such misdeeds,” she said.

Not only Parvin, demands for fair and peaceful polls are getting louder from many other candidates.

The four phases of polls, which were held in between March 22 and May 8, were marred by massive violence and irregularities. Around 84 people were killed and 6,000 injured due to violence.

Several candidates are now lobbying hard to ensure peaceful and fair voting in the next phases.

“Supporters of my rival candidates are regularly making showdown brandishing arms to intimidate voters,” said Sultan Khan, an independent candidate of Bharara UP under Sadar upazila in Pabna.

“I have already talked to the district election officer and the upazila election officer and will submit a written application to the deputy commissioner requesting necessary steps for peaceful voting on June 4,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Even the ruling Awami League-nominated chairman candidates in a number of UPs are in fear of violence and irregularities.

Abul Khayer Mohammad Ali Khokon, an AL-nominated chairman candidate of Guagachiya UP under Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj, has sought additional security in polling stations fearing violence and irregularities.

Three polling stations in that UP have been dubbed as most vulnerable and might be occupied by rival candidates, Khokon said in an application to the EC yesterday.

“I strongly demand deployment of magistrates and mobile teams of law enforcers round the clock at the centres,” the application read.

Local sources said an influential AL leader of Munshiganj is blessing an independent candidate in Guagachiya UP that will go to polls on May 28.

Saidur Rahman, a BNP-nominated chairman aspirant of Tajpur UP under Singra upazila in Natore, has meanwhile filed an appeal with the EC demanding deployment of army during the polls.

Elections to 725 UPs were held on March 22 in the first phase, 639 UPs on March 31 in the second phase, 615 UPs on April 23 in the third phase and 703 UPs on May 8 in the fourth phase.

Besides, polls to 733 UPs are slated for May 28 in the fifth phase and 724 on June 4 in the sixth phase.

Two more people, who were critically injured in violence over the fourth phase of the union parishad polls held on Saturday, died yesterday.

Around 26 people were also hurt in post-polls violence in Tangail and Jamalpur yesterday. 

At least 71 people were killed and some 6,000 others injured in violence over UP polls until May 4, according to Shushashoner Jannoy Nagorik (Shujan), a citizens' platform for good governance.

Thirteen more were killed in violence as of yesterday, according to The Daily Star findings.

In Rajshahi, Zahid Hasan, 34, of Konda village in Bagmara upazila, died from his injuries at a local clinic early yesterday, said Motiar Rahman, officer-in-charge of Bagmara Police Station.

With Zahid, three people were killed there in violence over the polls. On Saturday, two people were killed and 50 others hurt in a clash between the supporters of Awami League chairman candidate, its rebel candidate and police in Auchpara union. 

In Mymensingh, Enamul Haque, 28, of Birboula village, injured in post-polls violence in Poranganj union of Sadar upazila on Sunday, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Sunday night, said Kamrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station.

The police official also added that the supporters of a defeated member candidate attacked houses of the winning member candidate's followers, injuring eight people, including Enamul.

A motorcycle in flames inside the office building. Photo: Mirza Shakil

The injured were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Later, Enamul was shifted to DMCH as his condition deteriorated.

In Jamalpur, at least 16 people were hurt in a post-polls clash in Karoichura union under Madarganj upazila yesterday.

Around 11:00am, the supporters of newly elected AL chairman candidate Mozammel Haque Bachchu were locked in a clash in Garpara village over the distribution of money among his activists for their "duty" on the voting day, said Rampada Mandol, officer-in-charge of Madarganj Police Station.

UNO OFFICE ATTACKED

In Tangail, supporters of a defeated independent chairman candidate demanded a recount of votes of Atia union and attacked the office of Delduar upazila nirbahi officer yesterday.

They also threw brick chunks at different buildings of the upazila parishad and set three motorcycles on fire there, sources said.

At least 10 people, including Osman Gani, inspector (investigation) of Delduar Police Station, were hurt in the attack. They were admitted to Delduar Upazila Health Complex.

Independent candidate Sazzad Hossain along with around 1,000 supporters tried to lay siege to the UNO office around 10:00am.

Delduar police then attempted to disperse the attackers but failed. Later, additional police and Rapid Action Battalion members from Tangail rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Mosharaf Hossain, officer-in-charge of Delduar Police Station.

Our Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Tangail correspondents contributed to this report.