At least four people, including a female agent of a candidate, were killed in a shootout between law enforcers and ‘boat’ symbol activists at a polling station in Gabtali, Bogura.
The incident took place at Kalai Hata High School polling station in Baliadighi union of Gabtali upazila on Wednesday evening.
The deceased have been identified as Kulsum Akter, wife of Khokon of Kalaihata village in Baliadighi union of Gabtali upazila, Alamgir Hossain, son of Maqbool Hossain of the same village and Abdur Rashid son of Ifat Ullah of the same village. On the other hand, another person named Razzak was shot dead locally. His body is at Gabtali Hospital.
Bogra Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Ali Haider Chowdhury said, "We have the names of the three killed."
The incident flared up when the supporters of ‘boat’ symbol have gone berserk over not announcing the results of the poll center after the counting. The supporters have vandalized the police, BGB and Executive Magistrar's car. There were shootings to bring the situation under control. It caused casualties.
The situation was under the control of the police at around 8 pm and the results were declared after counting the ballot papers at the polling station.
Earlier, election officials wanted to take ballot papers at the Upazila Sadar without announcing the results after the polls. Boat symbol candidate Yunus Ali Fakir and his supporters objected. At one stage they surrounded the polling station.
At that time, the boat candidate’s workers started clashing with the members of the law enforcement agencies. The boat symbol candidate’s supporters were joined by the supporters of other candidates. Thousands of men and women attacked police, BGB and executive magistrate's vehicles with sticks. When the vandalism started, the law enforcers fired to bring the situation under control.
Gabtoli Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zia Latiful Islam said the situation has returned to normal. Election officials reached the Upazila Sadar safely.