Dhaka-6: Unrest over agents' signatures, presiding officer harassed

In the Dhaka-6 constituency of Old Dhaka in the capital, tension, scuffles and incidents of pushing the presiding officer occurred over the signing of documents by polling agents of Jamaat-backed candidates.

This unpleasant situation arose at the Jubilee School center in ward number 43 around 7 pm on Wednesday (February 11).

According to law enforcement and local sources, when polling agents of the Jamaat candidate of Dhaka-6 constituency entered the center to submit the necessary documents, local leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliates present there prevented them.

At one stage of the scuffle that started at that time, the center's presiding officer, Shafiqul Haque, was pushed.

At least five people, including a Jamaat polling agent, were injured in the incident.

Describing the incident, Presiding Officer Shafiqul Haque said, "No one was attacked; there was only verbal altercation and scuffle. Later, we left after understanding the matter."

He further said, "A party has committed this incident by making a hypothetical allegation that a Jamaat polling agent had come to sign the card. Then a scuffle started. A bottle was thrown at another of our colleagues. I was also pushed. Later, the army and law enforcement agencies reached the spot and brought the situation under control."

Immediately after the incident, Jamaat-backed candidate Dr. Abdul Mannan alleged at a press conference that the attack was carried out under the leadership of BNP leaders Mujibur Rahman Anu, Farid Uddin, Jabed Kamal Rubel and local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders. He announced that a fair trial and legal action would be taken in this incident.

On the other hand, regarding the complaint, Ward No. 43 BNP Vice President Mojibur Rahman Anu said that they went there out of suspicion because the documents were received unilaterally.

He claimed that no attack took place, only arguments and scuffles took place.

Police have confirmed that the situation at the center is currently normal. Additional Commissioner (AC) of Kotwali Zone Md. Fazlur Haque said that the situation is currently calm and the matter has been resolved by talking to all parties concerned.