Goyeshwar among BNP men hurt in pre-poll violence

Senior BNP leader and candidate for Dhaka-3 constituency, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, and 30 party activists were injured in an attack by unidentified criminals during campaigning at Chunkutia in Keraniganj area yesterday evening. Goyeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, sustained injuries in his head and was undergoing treatment at Kakrail Islami Bank Central Hospital, the BNP leader’s personal assistant, Aminul Islam, said. The other injured were also being treated at the same hospital, he added. Besides Goyeshwar, several BNP leaders and activists as well as some ruling party men were injured in pre-poll violence across the country.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi expressed frustration over the “growing incidents” of violence even after Army deployment. Ruhul accused Awami League men and police of attacking BNP leaders and activists in 28 constituencies. He alleged that over a hundred people, including 19 candidates, were injured in these attacks during campaigning on Monday.

On the other hand, BNP activists also allegedly attacked ruling party rallies in Chattagram and Tangail. In Dhaka-4 constituency, BNP candidate Salahuddin Ahmed alleged that police did not allow him to bring out a procession from front of his Syampur residence.

Salahuddin claimed that he was kept confined at his house and questioned as to why he wasn’t allowed to campaign unlike his AL opponent. The BNP candidate also alleged that at least 15 party activists were arrested and accused the police of having a partisan attitude.

In Chattogram, at least four AL men were injured when BNP supporters allegedly attacked a rally by the ruling party candidate of Chattogram-4 at Madambibirhat Bhatiary in Sitakunda yesterday. The injured were identified as Mohammad Saddam Hossain, Mohammad Raihan, Abu Saleh and Tayeb Uddin. They were admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), said Alauddin Talukdar, ASI of CMCH police outpost.

Among the injured, Saddam is the AL general secretary of Jahanabad ward of Bhatiary union parishad of Sitakunda, while the others are leaders and activists of the local Chattra League and Juba League units, sources said.

Officer-in-charge Delowar Hossain said, “The attack took place around 11 am. The attackers threw cocktails and petrol bombs. Three persons received burn injuries.”

CMCH sources said three of them were admitted in CMCH’s burn and plastic surgery unit while one was admitted in the casualty ward.

Didarul Alam, the ruling party MP contesting from Chattogram-4, said, “We had a campaign program in Jhanabad area. We were gathering in the area when a group of BNP terrorists led by local Khurshid member hurled petrol bomba to kill me.” He claimed over 10 AL leaders and activists were injured in the incident.

“I was saved by the leaders and activists. They are recognized terrorists who have been carrying out sabotages since 2014. They carried out the attack in a bid to foil the election and its outcome,” said Didar, who rushed to CMCH to see his injured party men.

However, the BNP has denied the allegation. The party convenor of Sitakunda upazila, Taffazal Ahmed, said, “Armed AL terrorists attacked us while we were campaigning in the area.”

In Jashore town, Kotwali police picked up Iqbal Kabir Jahid, a politburo member of Workers Party of Bangladesh, while he was travelling on a rickshaw at Chaurasta around 10:15 am yesterday. He was, however, set free after 20 minutes.

Sources said Workers Party leaders and activists had staged a sit-in protest on the premises of the Jashore deputy commissioner’s office on Monday. They were protesting against the arrest of a party activist, who police claimed was a member of Islami Chhatra Shibir. He was detained on December 18.

Syed Saberul Haque Sabu, the general secretary of BNP’s Jashore district unit, said police picked up Golam Reza Dulu, party vice president of the Jashore district unit, Noor-un-Nabi, president of BNP’s Kotwali thana unit, and Babu Hossain, president of Juba Dal’s Fatepur union council unit, while travelling in the vehicle of Aninda Islam Amit, BNP candidate for Jashore -3 constituency, around 10 am yesterday. At least 15 BNP men, who were not accused in any fresh case, were also picked up by police, he claimed.

A WP statement condemned the act of police. Apurba Hasan, OC of Kotwali police station, confirmed the arrest of BNP leaders, but not the WP leader.

Goyeshwar among BNP men hurt in pre-poll violence

Senior BNP leader and candidate for Dhaka-3 constituency, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, and 30 party activists were injured in an attack by unidentified criminals during campaigning at Chunkutia in Keraniganj area yesterday evening. Goyeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, sustained injuries in his head and was undergoing treatment at Kakrail Islami Bank Central Hospital, the BNP leaders personal assistant, Aminul Islam, said. The other injured were also being treated at the same hospital, he added. Besides Goyeshwar, several BNP leaders and activists as well as some ruling party men were injured in pre-poll violence across the country. Addressing a press conference yesterday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi expressed frustration over the growing incidents of violence even after Army deployment. Ruhul accused Awami League men and police of attacking BNP leaders and activists in 28 constituencies. He alleged that over a hundred people, including 19 candidates, were injured in these attacks during campaigning on Monday. On the other hand, BNP activists also allegedly attacked ruling party rallies in Chattagram and Tangail. In Dhaka-4 constituency, BNP candidate Salahuddin Ahmed alleged that police did not allow him to bring out a procession from front of his Syampur residence. Salahuddin claimed that he was kept confined at his house and questioned as to why he wasnt allowed to campaign unlike his AL opponent. The BNP candidate also alleged that at least 15 party activists were arrested and accused the police of having a partisan attitude. In Chattogram, at least four AL men were injured when BNP supporters allegedly attacked a rally by the ruling party candidate of Chattogram-4 at Madambibirhat Bhatiary in Sitakunda yesterday. The injured were identified as Mohammad Saddam Hossain, Mohammad Raihan, Abu Saleh and Tayeb Uddin. They were admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), said Alauddin Talukdar, ASI of CMCH police outpost. Among the injured, Saddam is the AL general secretary of Jahanabad ward of Bhatiary union parishad of Sitakunda, while the others are leaders and activists of the local Chattra League and Juba League units, sources said. Officer-in-charge Delowar Hossain said, The attack took place around 11 am. The attackers threw cocktails and petrol bombs. Three persons received burn injuries. CMCH sources said three of them were admitted in CMCHs burn and plastic surgery unit while one was admitted in the casualty ward. Didarul Alam, the ruling party MP contesting from Chattogram-4, said, We had a campaign program in Jhanabad area. We were gathering in the area when a group of BNP terrorists led by local Khurshid member hurled petrol bomba to kill me. He claimed over 10 AL leaders and activists were injured in the incident. I was saved by the leaders and activists. They are recognized terrorists who have been carrying out sabotages since 2014. They carried out the attack in a bid to foil the election and its outcome, said Didar, who rushed to CMCH to see his injured party men. However, the BNP has denied the allegation. The party convenor of Sitakunda upazila, Taffazal Ahmed, said, Armed AL terrorists attacked us while we were campaigning in the area. In Jashore town, Kotwali police picked up Iqbal Kabir Jahid, a politburo member of Workers Party of Bangladesh, while he was travelling on a rickshaw at Chaurasta around 10:15 am yesterday. He was, however, set free after 20 minutes. Sources said Workers Party leaders and activists had staged a sit-in protest on the premises of the Jashore deputy commissioners office on Monday. They were protesting against the arrest of a party activist, who police claimed was a member of Islami Chhatra Shibir. He was detained on December 18. Syed Saberul Haque Sabu, the general secretary of BNPs Jashore district unit, said police picked up Golam Reza Dulu, party vice president of the Jashore district unit, Noor-un-Nabi, president of BNPs Kotwali thana unit, and Babu Hossain, president of Juba Dals Fatepur union council unit, while travelling in the vehicle of Aninda Islam Amit, BNP candidate for Jashore -3 constituency, around 10 am yesterday. At least 15 BNP men, who were not accused in any fresh case, were also picked up by police, he claimed. A WP statement condemned the act of police. Apurba Hasan, OC of Kotwali police station, confirmed the arrest of BNP leaders, but not the WP leader.