A number of 37 eminent citizens of Bangladesh have urged the authorities concerned for immediate effective measures to stop poll-poll violence.
The made the call through a joint statement issued on Monday.
Expressing deep concern over such incidents in various districts across the country, they urged the Election Commission, the government and all political parties to take proper measures in this regard.
Describing the election being held without major conflict as a rare occurrence, the statement said the 13th parliamentary election was held across the country without any major violence or casualties in clashes between rival candidates and supporters. However, with the intention of tarnishing this, incidents of violent attacks and retaliation between workers and supporters of rival candidates occurred in several districts including Bagerhat, Faridpur, Rangpur, Cumilla, Pirojpur, Natore, Jhalakathi, Hatiya in Noakhali and Jhenaidah just one day after the election. Information has emerged of one death and several injuries in these incidents. There are also allegations of collecting fines as 'punishment' for voting for a particular party in the hill district of Khagrachari. Although the winning and other parties have also instructed their workers to maintain peace and order.
Calling upon law enforcement agencies, the statement said the primary responsibility of those parties or candidates whose workers and supporters are involved in these undesirable incidents is to take effective initiatives to keep their respective workers and supporters away from all forms of violence. At the same time, they called upon the interim government and all forces responsible for maintaining law and order, especially police and BGB members deployed in the field, to increase visible and effective activity. They strongly demanded that any attempt to disrupt citizens' security or violate the rights of any individual or group be resisted lawfully by enforcing the law impartially.
The statement noted that according to prior announcement, the army is still responsible for protecting law and order in the field. It is hoped that the army will take necessary measures against the ominous and undesirable incidents of ongoing violence by continuing the commendable dedication and concentration they have shown in ensuring citizens' security over the past few months, especially from a few days before the election until election day.
The statement further said the interim government is taking initiatives to peacefully hand over power to the newly elected majority party or alliance. In such a reality, although such violence and conflict may be desirable to some invisible quarters, it is absolutely unacceptable to the people of Bangladesh.
Calling upon the top leadership of all political parties, big and small, winners and losers, the statement said they will do full justice to the commitments they have made to protect peace and order in the country and the security of all citizens including women, children, minorities, indigenous people, disabled persons and the elderly.
The signatories to the statement include Sultana Kamal, Anu Muhammad, Hamida Hossain, Khushi Kabir, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Z I Khan Panna, Iftekharuzzaman, Rehnuma Ahmed, Abu Said Khan, Shahin Anam, Shahidul Alam, Sara Hossain, Shamsul Huda, Taslima Islam, Sumaiya Khair, Subrata Chowdhury, Tabarok Hossain, Faustina Pereira, Tasneem Siraj Mahbub, Robayet Ferdous, Zobaida Nasreen, Kajol Debnath and others.
