Upazila election officials, security personnel among seven shot dead in Rangamati
Unidentified gunmen in Rangamati have shot dead at least seven people, including polling officials and security personnel, after the end of phase-2 Upazila election voting boycotted by an organisation of Chittagong Hill Tracts people.
At least 11 others were injured when the gunmen carried out the attack in Noi Mile area on Baghaichari-Dighinala road on Monday evening, police and officials at the Election Commission and the local administration said.
They came under attack while returning to Upazila Sadar from polling stations set up at government primary schools at Konglak, Machalong, and Baghihat under the remote union of Sajek on three mini-trucks locally used to transport passengers, called Chander Gari.
The second vehicle of the convoy was hit when the attackers opened fire indiscriminately, Baghaichhari Police Station OC Manjurul Alam said.
The presiding officers of the three polling stations, polling officials, police, members of Ansar and Village Defence Party or VDP were on the three cars being escorted by Border Guard Bangladesh or BGB.
Six people died after the convoy rushed to the Baghaichhari Upazila Health Complex without stooping.
The EC in a statement condemned the attack and said a polling official and Ansar members were among the six killed.
It pledged help for the families of the victims and has asked the authorities to arrange treatment for the injured.
Later in the night, Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahee Officer or UNO Nadim Sarwar confirmed to bdnews24.com that one of the injured, a polling official, died while being taken to a hospital in Chattogram.
Chattogram Regional Election Officer Md Hasanuzzaman identified the deceased as teachers Amir Hossain and Abu Toyeb, who were working as polling officials, Ansar and VDP personnel Mihir Duttu, Al Amin, Bilkis Akter and Jahanara Begum, and one Montu Chakma.
Montu was identified by police as a passer-by.
The 11 injured, including presiding officer and teacher Abdu Hannan, were airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Chattogram, Hasanuzzaman said.
Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said the commission heard about the incident.
He earlier claimed the second phase of Upazila council elections was “largely peaceful” and the turnout was satisfactory like the first phase.
Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar, however, said it was necessary to reform local government elections and their management to give the EC more power.
He proposed this to ensure greater participation of all parties in the polls and boost voter turnout after the ongoing Upazila election lost its lustre due to a boycott by most of the parties, including the ruling Awami League’s main rival the BNP and its allies.
