Independent candidate's office attacked in Jhenaidah-4, four stabbed

After the national election day, four people have been stabbed in an attack on the election office of independent candidate Saiful Islam Firoz in the Jhenaidah-4 constituency. The incident occurred around 11:00 am on Friday, February 13, at the election office on Thana Road in the town.

The injured are: Javed Ali, former joint convener of Kaliganj municipal BNP; Mohammad Ali Jinnah; BNP activist Khokon Hossain; and his son Ibn Hossain, joint convener of municipal Chhatra Dal. All the injured are known to be supporters of independent candidate Saiful Islam Firoz.

In the recently concluded national parliamentary election, Jamaat-nominated candidate Abu Talib was elected Member of Parliament from this constituency with 1,04,031 votes. His nearest rival, independent candidate Saiful Islam Firoz contesting with the cup-saucer symbol, received 75,750 votes. BNP-nominated candidate and former general secretary of Ganadhikar Parishad Rashed Khan came third with 55,670 votes.

Voters of this constituency said Rashed Khan's home is in Muraridah village of Jhenaidah-2 constituency. He had never visited Kaliganj before the election. He came to Kaliganj on the last day for submitting nomination papers after the election schedule was announced. He later transferred his voter status from Jhenaidah-2 to the Arapara area of Jhenaidah-4 constituency.

Many said the Jhenaidah-4 constituency is predominantly BNP-oriented. Grassroots BNP supporters of the area could not accept Rashed Khan, who joined from another party just before the election. Voters of this constituency believe that Rashed Khan came third because Saiful Islam Firoz remained in the field as an independent candidate after not receiving the BNP nomination.

After losing the election, on Friday morning, several sheaf of paddy supporters attacked the independent candidate's main election office and vandalised it. During that time, four people were critically injured by stabbing and beating. Police arrived at the spot about an hour after the incident. Locals quickly rescued the injured and took them to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex, where three were referred to Jashore for advanced treatment. Among them, critically injured Ibn has been taken to Dhaka.

Independent candidate Saiful Islam Firoz said his election office was attacked the day after the election. Police arrived two hours after the attack. Identified attackers entered the office and carried out the assault, but police are not arresting them.

He said, "Here we have Pirbari, which is well-known in the area as a respected family. The sons of that family are peace-loving people; their business establishments are by the roadside, and my election office was there. The office was attacked under the leadership of Azizul. Two sons of Pirbari were also attacked inside their home. Family members are living in fear."

He further said violence has spread to various areas of this constituency. If this continues, the situation in this constituency will become dire. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the OC.

Kaliganj Police Station OC Jellal Hossain said, "Police have been sent to the spot after receiving information. Those involved will be brought under the law."