DHAKA, BANGLADESH (ANI) — Scores of political leaders and workers of various parties were injured in continuing attacks across Bangladesh ahead of the 11th general elections here, slated to take place on December 30.
Election offices have also been vandalized throughout the nation.
“They (rival supporters) exploded bombs in the procession, beat up and hacked Awami League activists, leaving at least 10 injured,” the Dhaka Tribune quoted Liton Hussain, an Awami League activist as saying.
Shalikha police station’s Officer-in-Charge Tariqul Islam has confirmed the news.
Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General (DG), Benazir Ahmed, stated that a cash inflow from Dubai is being used to instigate violence in the run-up to the December 30 elections.
Ahmed made these comments during a presser on Tuesday, where he announced the arrests of three men, who played a role in “instigating violence by distributing illegal money”.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has leveled allegations against supporters from the Awami League for attacking the motorcade of a former state minister and BNP candidate, Alamgir Kabir. The attack, which left 10 people injured, took place when the motorcade was on its way back from campaigning in Kashimpur union’s Dangapara in Raninagar upazila.
Previously, Bangladesh’s Election Commission had banned television channels in the country from live coverage inside polling centers during the general elections on Sunday. Live streaming of the elections on social media platforms has also been barred.
To ensure a free and fair election, more than 600,000 security personnel from police, Border Guard Bangladesh, RAB, Coast Guard, Ansar, and Village Defence Party, would be deployed at polling stations.
The ruling Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance will be locking horns against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led Jatiya Oikya Front (National Unity Front) and Left Democratic Alliance, where 300 constituencies of the 350-member Parliament are up for grabs. Incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is seeking to win a third term. (ANI)
