20 houses vandalized, 20 injured in post-election violence in Asashuni

At least 20 houses were vandalized in Asashuni of Satkhira in violence after the upazila parishad elections. At least 20 people were injured in the counter-attack.

These incidents of vandalism and clashes took place on Tuesday (21 May) night and Wednesday (22 May) morning.

2 of the injured have been admitted to Satkhira Medical College Hospital in critical condition. The police have so far arrested 13 people for their involvement in the violence.

Earlier on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, there was a clash between the newly elected chairman and Awami League leader ABM Mostakim and the workers-supporters of the rival and defeated candidate Awami League leader Shahnewaz Dalim group. Two of the injured have been admitted to Satkhira Medical College Hospital.

Shah Newaz Dalim, the defeated chairman candidate of Asashuni Upazila Parishad, said that the workers of the winning chairman ABM Mostakim led by Milon Parvez of Pirojpur village of Khazra Union attacked and vandalized the house of Ripon Hossain in the same village armed with domestic firearms. Later, terrorists ransacked at least 5 houses of Anwarul Islam and Saiful Islam in the same village.

At least 20 houses including Anwarul Islam of Goaldanga village of Baradal Union, Dipankar Sarkar Dwip, chairman of Kadakati Union, Saifur Rahman of Tetulia village, Liton Sardar, Abdus Samad of Pratapnagar were vandalized in separate attacks on Wednesday morning.

Apart from this, at least 5 people, including Anisur Rahman of Cheutia village of Khazra Union and Imran Hossain of Towardanga village, were seriously injured by the hammer of the opposition workers-supporters.

However, the winning chairman of Asashuni Upazila Parishad, ABM Mostakim, claims that this is not post-election violence, but it is actually an expression of people's long-standing anger. The workers-supporters of Dalim vandalized the houses of Mosharraf Hossain of Gunakarkati village of Kulya Union, Abdus Samad of Gadaipur village of Khazra Union and Baradal UP Chairman Jagdish Sanar Bamondanga.

Satkhira Superintendent of Police (SP) Muhammad Matiur Rahman Siddiqui confirmed the matter and said that the situation is now under complete control. Additional police force has been deployed in vulnerable areas. 13 people including Abdur Rahman, Abul Kalam Azad, Jahangir Hossain of Pirojpur village have been arrested in connection with the violence. Each incident will be a separate case.