Demand for Inclusion in Municipality
People of 3 Kushtia unions besiege DC office, block road
30 hurt in clash with law enforcers
At least 30 people were injured during a clash between villagers and law enforcers near the deputy commissioner's office in Kushtia town yesterday.
Police said the trouble began at around 11:00am when around 20, 000 people of three unions--Mojompur, Jagati and Barkhada--besieged the deputy commissioner's office demanding inclusion of the three unions in Kushtia Pourasava so that they can participate in the upcoming election to the municipality.
At one stage, the agitating people blocked Kushtia-Khulna highway by setting fire to tyres. Vehicular movement on the highway remained halted for an hour from 11:30am.
As police and Rab personnel went to the spot to clear the road, the agitators pelted them with brickbats. The law enforcers charged batons on the villagers and fired at least 18 blank shots to bring the situation under control.
The angry people also vandalised a car of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) while the elite force picked up seven people from the spot.
The people of the three unions are barred from participating in the election due to legal complexities.
Abdul Mamun, deputy commissioner of Kushtia, said he informed the Election Commission (EC) and the LGRD ministry about the matter.
The Election Commission (EC) on December 8 sent a letter to the DC office stating that the election to Kushtia municipality, excluding the three unions, will be held on January 13.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda has said an environment conducive to holding peaceful election to municipalities is prevailing in the country and all necessary measures will be taken to ensure free, fair and neutral election.
“Winning the election by flexing muscle and occupying polling centers is no longer possible," the CEC said while exchanging views with the DCs, SPs and election officials of seven districts of greater Jessore and Kushtia in the conference room of Jessore Collectorate Bhaban yesterday, says a correspondent.
According to the code of conduct, there is no scope for winning the poll with the help of black money, he said, adding that the candidates are to fulfill 21 conditions to take part in the election race.
The CEC urged the voters to vote for honest and qualified candidates. He also asked the officials concerned to work without fear or favour to make the upcoming pourasava election free, fair and neutral.
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