At least 50 families in two villages of Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila say their male members have fled their homes amid fears of renewed attacks following the parliamentary election.
Residents of Marundi (Bon Kumira Para) and Lakshmipur villages in Fursondi Union allege that supporters of the “sheaf of paddy” candidate in Jhenaidah-4 constituency carried out repeated assaults after the polls, targeting families who backed independent candidate Saiful Islam Firoz, who contested with the cup-and-saucer symbol.
Family members claim houses and shops were vandalised and men beaten, forcing many to go into hiding since election day. The latest violence erupted around 6am on 22 February, when, according to residents, hundreds of people armed with sticks and sharp weapons descended on the villages.
“We have been away from home since the evening of polling day,” said Sabur Ali of Lakshmipur. “If they found us, they would have killed us.”
A visit to the villages found damaged houses, broken doors and torn tin roofs. In Marundi, Tamjel Ali said his grocery and tea shop near the government primary school was destroyed during the attack. “They looted goods worth Tk50,000 to Tk60,000 and smashed my fridge and television,” he said, alleging that the violence continued for hours.
Women described living in fear without male family members present.
Rabeya Khatun, wife of Ripon Mondol, said there were no adult men left in her household. “We cannot even step outside at night. I had to irrigate the paddy field myself, otherwise the crop would be lost,” she said.
Shahnaz Parveen, wife of Basharul Mondol, said attackers struck her home while she was preparing iftar on 21 February. “They chopped at the doors and roof. My five-year-old disabled son was in the veranda. We are terrified,” she said.
Another resident, Sharmila Khatun, said several crude bombs exploded near her home. She claimed her 10-year-old daughter picked up an unexploded device from the yard, later identified by police as a cocktail bomb. “If it had exploded in her hand, what would have happened?” she asked.
Residents listed dozens of men who have left Lakshmipur alone, saying fields remain unattended and livelihoods disrupted.
Union Jubo Dal President Sahabur Rahman said around 50 to 60 houses were attacked on 22 February. He claimed the clashes stemmed from rivalry within local BNP factions over support for different candidates in the constituency.
Union BNP Convener Zahid Biswas and Union Parishad Member Haidar Ali rejected the allegations, each accusing the other’s supporters of initiating violence. Haidar Ali said both sides had members who fled their homes.
BNP-nominated candidate Mohammad Rashed Khan said he had urged police to investigate impartially. “A group has been using the party name to assert social dominance,” he said.
Jhenaidah Additional Superintendent of Police Sheikh Billal Hossain said the unrest was linked to local disputes over influence. “Police are working to restore normalcy. Those who feel unsafe should file complaints, and we will take action,” he said.
For now, women and children in the two villages remain behind shuttered doors, as the political fallout from the election continues to reverberate through rural Jhenaidah.
