27 injured in clashes ahead of Bagerhat UP polls

At least 27 people have been injured in clashes that erupted ahead of elections in three union parishads of Bagerhat's Morelganj upazila.

Five of them were admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital and the rest were treated at local hospitals as well as Bagerhat Sadar Hospital.

The clashes broke out between Friday night and Saturday noon in Telihati, Hoglabunia and Bongram union parishads. Supporters of Awami League- nominated and independent candidates clashed.

In Hoglabunia union, independent candidate Shamim Hasan Palash alleged that three of his men had been injured in an attack made by the supporters of Awami League-nominated candidate Md Akramuzzaman while putting up his poster in front of Charhoglabunia Azizia Dakhil Madrasa on Saturday afternoon.

Denying the allegations, Akramuzzaman said, "These are all propaganda only to create panic."

Nazrul Islam, an independent chairman candidate of Teligati union, alleged that during a campaign on Friday, supporters of Awami League candidate Morsheda Begum had attacked his supporters, leaving several injured.

But Morsheda denied the allegation. 

On the other hand, on Friday night, supporters of Ripon Das, the Awami League chairman candidate, allegedly attacked the house of Abdul Jabbar Mollah, an independent chairman candidate, in Bongram Union.

They also allegedly vandalised the furniture of Jabbar's election office and injured three workers.

But Ripon denied the allegation and said Jabbar's workers had attacked them.

Bagerhat Additional Superintendent of Police Mir Shafin Mahmud said, "We have received some reports of election violence. We are investigating all those."

He said legal action would be taken if any complaint was received.