The election commission in Jhenidah suspended smart identity (ID) card distribution among the citizens when four of their employees engaged in card distribution, were beaten up by some young men at Garaganj girls high school under Umedpur union parishad of Shailkupa upazila on Monday morning.
One of the injured was rushed to Jhenidah Sadar hospital, while three including a female employees are being treated at Shailkupa upazila health complex. The police have taken the said union parishad member Saidur Rahman Swapan to police station custody for interrogation, police said.
Nasrin, a female employee of the election commission was undergoing treatment at the female ward of Shailkupa upazila health complex, said she along her colleagues were engaged in distributing smart identity cards among the females in the early stage of the day. A man identifying himself as a UP member of Umedpur union parishad interfering the activities.
As she (Nasrin) advised him to leave the room for smooth distribution of the cards, the said man Swapan got anger and threatened her. A few minutes later Swapan along with another seven to eight young men entered in to the room and slapped her. As she started hue and cry, the others of the commission rushed there and the outsiders started beating up them massively.
EC staff Abdullah, Ismail Hossain, Rubayet and Nasrin sustained injury. Of them Abdullah was rushed to Jhenidah Sadar hospital with severe blood coat, while three others were receiving treatment at Shailkupa upazila health complex.
Upazila election officer Mashiur Rahman when contacted, said the attackers had vandalized a computer and some other smartcard related accessories during the attack. They had suspended the smart identity card distribution finding no other alternative.
He had informed the matter to officer in charge (OC) of Shailkupa police station and OC had visited the spot. He had also informed it to the election commission (EC) and waiting for further instruction from the commission.
Shailkupa police station OC Bazlur Rahman when contacted said it was no major incident as there was an incident of blowing between the EC employees and ward member Swapan.
He admitted that a computer was vandalized during the time. The police had taken the said ward member Saidur Rahman Swapan to Shailkupa police station custody for interrogation, OC said.
