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A tense situation prevailed in Sujanagar upazila ahead of the election due to the series of clashes between AL and its rebel candidates’ supporters.

Law enforcers have taken high alert position there, sources said.

Last week at a meeting with the Election Commission, top police officials warned of “possibilities of violence” in several places during the election.

In the absence of BNP in the polls, the main contest would presumably be between the Awami League, its “rebel group” and the Jatiya Party.

A total of seventeen political parties are participating in the second phase, EC data shows.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, however, ruled out possibilities of violence. He rather said that it would be held in a “festive mood”.

“Instructions have been given to law enforcers to control the law and order situation with an iron fist,” he said while speaking to reporters at the EC office after a commission meeting yesterday.

He said that law enforcers can’t be blamed for the violence. “It is a reality that you cannot stop such untoward incidents by guarding localities. To stop such incidents, tolerance among people participating and connected with the election is necessary.”

ONE MORE DIES IN PABNA

Tension gripped the UPs of many districts, including Narsigndi, Naryanganj, Pabna, Meherpur, Noakhali, as a series of clashes took place around the country centring the polls, reported our district correspondents.

Sobuz Hossain, 28, who was injured in a factional clash between AL and its rebel candidates for the Vaina union parishad election in Pabna’s Sujanagar upazila, died in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Wednesday night, according to Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sujanagar Police Station.

Sobuz sustained injuries when supporters of AL backed candidate Amin Uddin and its rebel candidate Omar Faruk, locked in a clash on Monday.

“I am worried about what will happen on election day. Clashes have been taking place regularly ahead of it,” said Anwar Hossain of Satbaria union of the upazila.

Panic has also spread among the voters of other unions, especially Alokbali in Narsingdi Sadar.

At least six people were killed in clashes between two AL groups on October 26 and then November 4.

Our district correspondents reported that violence continued ahead the second phase of the UP polls and, in most cases, supporters of AL nominees and party “rebel” candidates have been involved.

Sources in the ruling party said around 690 “rebel” candidates are contesting the elections.

Police officials, speaking at a meeting organised by the EC with police and admin officials on November 4, warned the commission of further violence in at least seven districts of the Dhaka and Khulna divisions.

Habibur Rahman, deputy inspector general of police (Dhaka range), told the meeting that there were possibilities of violence in 90 unions of Dhaka division. As many as 170 of them are going for polls today.

Statistics of Ain o Salish Kendra show at least 44 people were killed in clashes centring local government elections between January and October this year. Of them, 40 were killed in clashes over UP polls.

UNOPPOSED

On September 29, the EC announced that 848 UPs from 64 districts will go for polls in the second phase. But today 835 will go for polls.

Election to the four UPs was postponed due to cases and the schedule of one union was cancelled due to “irregularities” by returning officer, EC official said.

Besides, the election to five UPs in Cumilla’s Laksham upazila will be held again as chairman, general member and member for reserved seats for women were elected unopposed.

These unions are Kandhirpar, Govindpur, Uttarda, Ajgora and Laksam Purbo.

A total of 81 chairman candidates, 203 member candidates and 76 member aspirants for reserved seats for women were elected unopposed.

There are 3,310 chairman candidates, 28,747 members and 9,161 women’s reserve seat candidates. About 1.66 crore voters are expected to cast their votes at 8,492 polling centres.