Awami league. Jatlya Party and the five-party Alliance In Jessore ghcraoed the office of the Returning Officer yesterday demanding fresh pourashava election.
Meanwhile tn Magura tension prevailed as all the opposition parties Intensified campaign for a half-day hartal yesterday in protest against alleged rigging of the pourashava election.
And in Faridpur yesterday, a half-day hartal called by Awaml League in protest of rigging In the pourashava polls was observed peacefully.
Our Jessore Correspondent adds: The opposition parties brought out a big procession In the town demanding a fresh and Impartial election there.
They also handed over a memorandum to the Returning Officer, who is the Additional District Magistrate.
The opposition called for a day-long hartal today (Tuesday) tn support of their demands.
UNB from Magura adds: The action of the combined opposition was also to press for re-polllng. alleging that Saturday s election was rigged at least at IO centres tn favour of ruling party candidate Dr Mahbubul Haque Slddique. the brother of a minister.
Election to Magura Pourashava was postponed amld-stpoll violence and alleged stuffing of ballot boxes.
A huge procession was brought out yesterday by the opposition to drum up support for today’s hartal.
Meanwhile, at least 15 people Including three women, were Injured tn a fierce clash between rival villagers at Slngra In the Sadar thana yesterday. past enmity was said to be the cause.
Witnesses said the clash started when an armed group attacked the houses of Abdul Barlk Mollah at about 7:30 am Monday.
The attackers ransacked the dwelling houses of Barlk Mollah and his brothers Tarik Mollah and Atik Mollah. Valuables worth an estimated Taka 50,000 were also looted.
Of the Injured, Tohurannesa (30), Asia Khatun (40), Kohinoor Begum (JO) and Abdul Majid Mollah (55) were
admitted to the Sadar Hospital with serious cuts.
And in Faridpur, the agency said, the hartal from 6 am to 12 noon was marked by closure of all commercial houses and educational institutes. All kinds of transport were off the roads during the period. Banks resumed transaction after hartal hours.
Additional law enforcing agencies were deployed at different trouble points of the town.
Later in the evening a meeting was held at the Moijuddln High School ground presided by Chairman elect of Faridpur Sadar Pourashava Fazlul Kabir Chand.
The speakers at the meeting criticised hartal callers for creating unnecessary inconveniences to the people.
The January 30 election was conducted in a free and fair atmosphere, they said.
In Manlkganj, at least 10 people. Including two policemen. were injured yesterday as supporters of three chairman candidates in last pourashava eketion clashed over polls results.
Witnesses said supporters of defeated independent candidate Mahidur Rahman attacked the supporters of newly elected chairman Ramjan All of Jatlya Party in the town yesterday morning, leaving five people seriously injured.
The injured JP activists --Jabed All (50) and Raflqul Islam (25) of Poult village, Ataur Rahman 137) of Boundltia village, Abdul Mannan (25) and Naztrr Uddin (45) of Nava Kandt village of Sadar thana -- were admitted to Manlkganj Sadar hospital in critical condition.
Another five people, including two police constables, were injured when supporters of defeated candidate Moshar-raf Hossain (Ind) clashed with Ramjan's men at Dudhbarl area of the town in the afternoon.
Police picked up seven people after the clash.
The district administration called a meeting with the local leaders of all political parties today fTucsday) at 11 am to avoid further untoward Incident.