One jailed,5 fined for poll code violation
8 hurt in clash, armed criminals active
Children are engaged in setting posters in favour of the candidates for the upcoming union parishad election in Harirampur upazila of Manikganj district where a section of candidates have continued defying election code of conduct.Photo: STAR
A mobile court in Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur yesterday jailed a man of a union parishad chairman candidate for bribing voters. Mizanur Rahman, 26, working in favour of Kazi Maksudur Rahman Labu, a chairman candidate in Palshapara union parishad will suffer 15 days jail for the offence, reports our correspondent. The court led by Maksuda Khanam, UNO of Ghoraghat upazila, also fined him Tk. 15,000. Mizanur Rahman is son of Ansar Ali of Ilsha Gopalpur village under the upazila. Acting on a tip-off, a mobile team led by the UNO raided Ruposhipara village of Palashpur union of the upazila and caught Mizanur red-handed while giving money to the voters. In Gaibandha, a mobile court in separate verdicts fined five candidates for breaching election code of conduct in Sundarganj upazila yesterday, reports our correspondent. The mobile court led by Shamsul Azam, UNO Sundarganj upazila, fined Kanchipara union parishad candidate Shamsuzzaman Mizan Tk1,000, women resereve seat candidate for Chandipur union Rahima Khatun Tk300, member candidates Khaibor Hossain, Mostafizur Rahman and Jainul Abedin each Tk300 for holding rally and other offences. Opposition candidates meanwhile has filed an allegation with the UNO against member candidate Mozaffar Basunia for holding procession. They also submitted a documentary evidence to the UNO in this regard. Measures against the candidate will be taken after investigation, said the UNO of Sundarganj upazila. Meanwhile, at least eight people were injured in a clash between supporters of two union parishad member candidates at Kazi Kashba village in Sadar upazila of Munshiganj on Friday. Police said, member candidate Kazi Fulon was holding a meeting with his supporters at the house of one Sohag of the village in the afternoon, reports UNB. The clash took place after the supporters of another candidate Ripon Bhuiyan attacked the supporters of Fulon. Of the injured, Sohag and Shaon were admitted to Munshiganj General Hospital. Our Manikganj correspondent reported that armed criminals have become active in the char areas of Harirampur upazila ahead of the June 2 union parishad election. Soures said, the gangs are moving freely with arms. The situation is turning worse with the nearing of election, leaving the voters amid worry and anxiety. Locals recently sought intervention from the higher authorities for necessary steps to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. Five unions out of the 13 in the upazila are in char areas and Azimnagar is one of the char unions. During a visit to Azimpur a few days ago, this correspondent found that supporters of two rival chairman candidates of the union locked in fierce altercation. The number of voters in Azimpur is around 4500 while around 500 other voters live outside the union. Incumbent chairman Abdul Hannan Mridha and Bellal Hossain are rival candidates for the chairman post. Abdul Hannan Mridha alleged that his rival recently hired some armed goons from neighbouring Faridpur district who are giving death threats to his supporters. The armed men are creating pressure on my supporters to join election campaign. They are also tearing up my posters, he alleged. Refuting the charges Bellal Hossain made similar allegations against his rival candidate. Elderly voter Hamid Ali of Hatighata area said, "Armed men are being used in the election campaign". "Some unidentified youths frequently roam around on motorbike", he added. Another voter on condition of anonymity, said “these armed criminals flee to the other side of the river whenever they sense presence of law enforcers”. They urged the authorities to deploy sufficient number of policemen in the areas to ensure a peaceful atmosphere ahead of and during election. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Harirampur police station Shawkat Ali said "police are keeping an eye on the situation. The authorities are thinking of deploying more police two days ahead the election."
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