Fire Up, Shooting, Ballot Snatching at Polling Station in Shariatpur

The miscreants set fire to the Dulukhand Government Primary School polling station in Ward 5 of Bhojeshwar Union in Naria Upazila of Shariatpur after detonating a bomb and snatching ballot boxes.

The incident took place around 2:15 pm on Wednesday (January 5). At that time, the motorcycles of two journalists were burnt. At least 10 people were injured. After the incident, the voting has been postponed.

Police and election officials said voting for the Bhojeshwar Union Parishad election began on Wednesday morning. The Awami League has not fielded any candidate for the post of chairman of this union. Shahidul Islam Sikder, Emdad Sikder, Runa Akhter, Delwar Hossain Bepari and Enamul Haque Byapari are contesting for the post of chairman.

Former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque and chairman of Naria Upazila Parishad Ismail Haque are cousins ​​of Dolwar Hossain Bepari. Supporters of Delwar Hossain Bepari attacked Dulukhand Government Primary School No. 22 around 2:15 pm. They dispersed voters with bombs and shots. They then seized the ballot box and snatched three ballot boxes, 3,000 ballots and election materials.

As they were leaving, they locked the door from outside and set fire to the polling station. Officials in charge of elections, Ansar members and voters were trapped there. They broke down the door and escaped.

Shariatpur correspondent of The Daily Star Emrul Hasan Bappi, Moniruzzaman of Jamuna TV, Satyajit Ghosh of Prothom Alo, Shariful Alam Emon of Kaler Kantho and journalist Hemant Das were trapped in the presiding officer's room. They were targeted and bombed. Police personnel present at the center tried to defend the center by firing back.

BGB members led by Executive Magistrate Sujan Das Gupta rescued the detainees. Five units of the fire service reached the spot and brought the fire under control. The attackers snatched the jewelery of at least six women Ansar members and women voters.

Nari Ansar member Tariqat Nesha said she took shelter inside the center because of the bombs and bullets. Ballot boxes and ballots were snatched. The school building was later set on fire.

Iqbal Sikder, a member candidate of ward 5 of the union, said he was trapped inside the center during the attack. “We panicked as the room was set on fire from outside. I came out of the building with broken doors and windows and somehow survived,” he said.

Shahidul Islam Sikder, chairman candidate of Pineapple Symbol, said that supporters of Delwar Hossain Bepari attacked three centers to frustrate the vote. Cocktails exploded in the morning, spreading panic. The fire broke out in the center of Ward No. 5 around noon.

Meanwhile, at around 5 pm, Delwar Hossain Bepari, the chairman candidate of Chashma Pratik, was called several times but he did not receive the call. Later his phone was found turned off.

Presiding Officer Abdul Wadud said, "Terrorists attacked my center at 2:15 pm to occupy it." Several people were injured. I order members of the law enforcement to shoot to protect the center. At this time they fired. But it was not possible to stop the terrorists as the shots were fired. They beat up election officials at the center, took ballot papers and ballot boxes. Before leaving, they set fire to the school building. Voting at this center has been suspended.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Naria Police Station Abani Shankar said, "As soon as we got the news, we went to the spot and rescued the captives." A case will be filed in this incident.