Clash between supporters of two councilor candidates outside polling station

A clash took place outside the Keshabpur Government Primary School polling station of Ward No. 4 of Rajshahi city at around 12pm on Wednesday between supporters of two councilor candidates in Rajshahi City Corporation Election. 

During the clash, one side vandalized the election camp of the other side. Some people were injured on both sides.

The clash took place between supporters of Ruhul Amin Tunu, the current councilor of this ward competing with tiffin carrier symbol , and Ashraful Islam Babu, contesting with racket symbol candidate. Ruhul Amin is the former general secretary of that ward unit BNP. Now a supporter of ruling Awami League having no party position. On the other hand Ashraful Islam is the president of Ward unit Jubo League, the youth unit of ruling party.

Eyewitnesses said that the clash between supporters of both sides started in front of the polling station at noon. Ashraful Islam‍‍`s men chased Ruhul Amin‍‍`s supporters with sticks. At this time, Ruhul Amin‍‍`s supporters threw bricks in return. Election camps of both sides were vandalized during this clash. The chairs of the camps were dismantled. The clashes left polling stations empty for some time. Later, when the police brought the situation under control, the voters returned to the center.

Candidate Ruhul Amin Tunu said, "Rival candidates are not able to accept seeing that the tide has been created in favor of Tiffin carrier. They came to the polling station and prevented my voters from entering. A polling agent was also expelled. Then they attacked my supporters. My wife Bebi was injured in the attack.

When candidate Ashraful Islam Babu was called to speak, he did not pick up. His brother Mahanagar Swachhasevak League Vice President Anwar Hossain said, ‍‍`Ruhul Amin Tunu‍‍`s people were preventing our voters from entering the centre. When they protested, they vandalized our two election camps. The houses of our supporters along the Padma Dam were also attacked. An autorickshaw was vandalized. Five of us were injured in the attack. They have been sent to the hospital for treatment.

Vivekananda Biswas, the presiding officer of this polling station said, "There was a fight between the supporters of two candidates on the street outside the polling station. There was no problem in taking the vote.