At least 39 individuals sustained injuries in violent incidents related to the polls that occurred in Noakhali and Patuakhali on the previous day.
In the Noakhali-2 region, a confrontation erupted between supporters of BNP candidate Zainul Abdin Farooque and independent candidate Kazi Mofizur Rahman at Senbagh Bazar around 7:00 pm, resulting in at least 13 people being injured, as per the police.
Mofizur, a former member of the BNP’s National Executive Committee, claimed that the supporters of the BNP candidate assaulted his vehicle. Farooque, however, refuted the allegation, stating that Mofizur’s supporters damaged his car.
In Baufal, Patuakhali, a clash between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists left at least 26 individuals injured, including three women.
According to witnesses, a group of female Jamaat activists were canvassing at Bhandaria Bazar around 12:30 pm for their party’s nominee Shafiqul Islam Masud in Patuakhali-2. BNP activists accused the female group of distributing money to influence votes, leading to a confrontation between the two groups.
The injured individuals were taken to Baufal Upazila Health Complex, with three of them being women, as confirmed by Abdur Rouf, the upazila health and family planning officer. One critically injured person was transferred to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College.
Following the incident, Jamaat activists staged a protest procession in the upazila headquarters around 3:30 pm. A clash occurred between BNP and Jamaat activists near the upazila health complex during the procession.
Jamaat activists later blocked the Barishal-Baufal road in front of Baufal Police Station for about two hours, demanding the transfer of the Officer-in-Charge (OC) whom they accused of bias towards the BNP.
Allegations of attacks between BNP and Jamaat activists were exchanged, with both sides denying involvement in the violence. The OC of Baufal Police Station asserted that he was maintaining neutrality in his duties.
The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Baufal mentioned that legal actions would be taken after an investigation into the incidents.
In a separate incident, independent candidate Ataur Rahman Angur, a former BNP lawmaker, claimed that his convoy was attacked and several vehicles were vandalized in Narayanganj’s Araihazar upazila the previous night.
At a press conference at his residence in Elumdi around 8:30 pm, Ataur, contesting with the “Kolosh” symbol, accused supporters of BNP contender Nazrul Islam Azad of carrying out the attack in the Tingaon area.
Law enforcement agencies were notified immediately, and Ataur urged the administration to ensure a fair environment for voters to cast their ballots without fear.
Araihazar BNP President Yusuf Ali Bhuiyan refuted the allegations, stating that no party members were involved in the incident. The Officer-in-Charge of Araihazar Police Station mentioned that they were investigating the matter based on a verbal complaint received.
