Attack During Vote Counting, 4 Killed in Shooting

The miscreants attacked during the counting of votes for the Union Parishad elections in Bogura's Gabtali upazila. At that time four people were killed in BGB firing.

The incident took place at Kalaihata High School polling station in Baliadighi union of the upazila around 7 pm on Wednesday (January 5).

The deceased was Md. Khokon’s wife Kulsum Akhter (35) of Kalaihata area of ​​Baliadighi union, Khorshed Ali (70), Abdur Rashid (48) and Alamgir (40). Among them Kulsum Akhter was the agent of one of the candidates.

Gabtoli Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zia Latiful Islam said four people had been confirmed dead in the incident. They were shot dead by BGB.

Meanwhile, Gabtali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Raunak Jahan said that even though the polling ended peacefully at Kalaihata High School Center, the supporters of the boat candidate obstructed the counting of votes. At the end of the counting of votes in other centers, they said to announce the results of the vote. Supporters of boat candidate Younus Ali Fakir attacked when polling officials objected. At that time, there was a clash between the members of the boat and the BGB.

In addition to the UNO vehicles, a total of four police and BGB vehicles were vandalized by the boat's supporters. Apart from UNO Asif Ahmed of Shahjahanpur, who is in charge of the executive magistrate, four members of the BGB-police were also injured in the attack.

Earlier in the day, a youth named Zakir Hossain (40) was stabbed to death during the Rameshwarpur Union Parishad election in Gabtali. Five people were killed in the violence in Gabtali on Wednesday.