Protests, vandalism and arson marked the announcement of election schedule
Since the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming Jatiyo Sangsad(JS) elections on Wednesday (November 15), incidents of vandalism and arson have occurred in Chandpur, Dhaka, Feni, Bogura, Sylhet, Noakhali, Gazipur and Chattogram.
At least 20 vehicles, big and small, were vandalized on the Chandpur-Cumilla Regional Highway. Police said that the incident took place in the Ghosherhat and Pallividyut areas of the highway after 8 pm on Wednesday.
After this incident, several police teams and BGB were deployed at the spot under the leadership of Chandpur Additional Superintendent of Police Sudipta Roy.
According to the police, at least 15 people including the driver and passengers were injured in the attack by the miscreants. The names of the injured were not immediately known. They received treatment locally.
10 leaders and workers of BSD were injured in the attack during the anti-election schedule march in Feni. The incident happened around 8 pm. The Left Democratic Alliance has announced a half-hour strike across the country on Thursday, rejecting the upcoming 12th National Assembly election schedule. To make the hartal successful, the bus leaders took out a torch procession at night in front of the central Shaheed Minar of Feni.
A group of pro-government supporters ambushed the procession from behind as it passed through Banshpara area of the city. The Left Democratic Alliance Feni District Coordinator, BSD (Marxist) Feni District Convener Comrade Jasim Uddin, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front Feni District Convenor Nayan Pasha, Nari Mukti Kendra Feni District Branch member Kumu and 10 BSD leaders were seriously injured.
Jasim Uddin, convenor of Feni district buses, said, "We took out a protest march with torches immediately after the schedule was announced. Awami-Chhatra League-Jubo League leaders-activists ambushed the procession from behind when it was crossing Banswara area of the city. During this time, several of our leaders and workers including myself were seriously injured.
He also said, "The Chief Election Commissioner has announced a one-sided election. We have already said that if the unilateral schedule is announced, we will observe strikes across the country. A little earlier, the CEC announced the schedule. So we will observe hartals tomorrow from 6 am to 2 pm across the country.
Miscreants set fire to a container lorry at Shakpala in Bogura Sadar around 8:55 PM. A unit of Bogura fire station went there after receiving the information.
Lorry driver Badiul Alam said, 'I was going to Rangpur to bring tobacco from Chattogram in the morning. About 100 people came with a torch procession in front of the BADC office and started throwing bricks and stones. When the lorry stopped, they torched the lorry and left.'
Shahjahanpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahidul Islam told, 'We came to the spot after getting the news. I was able to put out the fire with the help of the locals. Later, the fire service personnel came and extinguished the fire completely.
Miscreants set fire to a truck in Dhaka's Doha market around 10 pm. According to the control room of the fire service headquarters, two units of the Doha fire station have reached the spot to extinguish the fire. Police are providing security to them.
Miscreants set fire to Laguna in Daspara of Shahparan in Sylhet around 9:30 pm. Fire service reached there after getting information. 2 units of Sylhet cantonment fire station do fire fighting work.
In Noakhali, at least 10 covered vans and CNG-powered auto-rickshaws were vandalized in different areas of the city. Sudharam police officer-in-charge Zahedul Haque Rony (OC) confirmed this information to The Daily Star.
Noakhali Additional Superintendent of Police Nazmul Hasan Rajeev said that BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists set fire to tires at Somir Munshirhat of Senbag upazila on the Chaumuhani-Feni regional highway.
At around 10:50 PM in Chattogram, miscreants set fire to two buses parked on the side of the road in Wasar Mor area of Khulshi. Two units of Agrabad fire station have gone there to confirm the fire service headquarters control room.
A passenger bus was set on fire at Sreepur in Gazipur around 10 pm. However, there were no casualties.