The activists of the ruling Awami League (AL) allegedly continued their attacks on motorcades of candidates, campaigners and supporters of the BNP, Jatiya Oikyafront and the Leftist Democratic Alliance in various places of the country yesterday.
Talking to the media yesterday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed claimed that at least 200 BNP leaders and activists were attacked by ruling AL activists and that law-enforcement agency members arrested more than 100 party leaders and activists during election campaigning across the country. On Saturday, Rizvi had alleged that 150 BNP candidates were attacked by AL activists across the country.
The arrestees include Jamaat-e-Islami leader and Oikyafront candidate for Satkhira-4 Gazi Nazrul Islam.
In the latest assault, the ruling party men reportedly carried out separate attacks on the motorcades of Abdullah Al Noman (Chattagram-10), Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan (Narshindi-2) and Joynal Abedin Faruque (Noakhali-2)—all high-profile BNP candidates—while they were campaigning. In Tangail, the motorcade of Independent candidate and ex-AL minister and expelled leader Abdul Latif Siddique came under attack at Soratoil of Gohaliabari UP in Kalihati Upazila of Tangail district. Many workers and supporters of Latif Siddique were injured and four cars were damaged.
In protest against the attack, Abdul Latif Siddique staged a demonstration in front of the DC’s office. He alleged that workers of AL candidate Hasan Imam Khan Sohel Hazari attacked his motorcade. However, Hasan Imam Khan Sohel Hazari denied the allegations. He said some locals attacked Abdul Latif Siddique and made derogatory remarks.
In Noakhali, ruling party men allegedly attacked the motorcade of BNP leader Zainul Abdin Farroque, injuring him and 20 other party leaders and activists. Later, Farroque told reporters that activists of the ruling party carried out the attack and also torched the BNP office when they were busy campaigning. Among the injured are upazila chairman and BNP vice–chairman Abul Kalam Azad, Purashva unit BNP general secretary Shohidullah, its president Jahirul Islam Liton, Senbagh Upazila Chharta Dal president Shabuddin Raseel and BNP’s Purshava unit president Imran Hossain Sawpan.
In Chattogram, the victory rally of BNP candidate Abdullah Al Noman came under attack allegedly by activists of the ruling party. Later, Noman said the AL men carried out the attack to kill him. “I never saw such an attack in 20 years of my political career,” he added.
In Narshindi, the motorcade of Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan came under attack, leaving at least 50 BNP activists injured. In Chandpur, a clash between BNP and AL workers at Puran Bazar Nitaiganj More left 20 people, including one police inspector, injured. The inspector was identified as Abdur Rashid (40). He is the in-charge of Puran Bazar police outpost.
Locals and witnesses said when BNP candidate for Chandpur-3 constituency and convener of district BNP, Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, was campaigning at Nitaiganj More at Puran Bazar at 11.30am yesterday, a clash broke out between BNP and AL workers. Two
shops and five houses were vandalised.
On the other hand, police arrested Jamaat-e-Islami leader Gazi Nazrul Islam, who is contesting the election from Satkhira-4 constituency as an Oikyafront candidate with the ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol. Law enforcers picked him from his residence at Alutila in Shyampur upazila yesterday.
UNB adds: In Bhola, over 50 people were injured in a clash between AL and BNP men in Borhanuddin upazila. Five election offices of Awami League and five microbuses were vandalised and 20 motorcycles torched during the melee. Witnesses said BNP leaders and activists gathered at Hakimuddin launchgaht in the morning to receive BNP candidate for Bhola-2 Hafiz Ibrahim who came to his area from Dhaka.
At one stage, they engaged in a clash with Awami League leaders and activists who were conducting electioneering in the area.
Five election offices of Awami League in Udaypur area and five microbuses were damaged while 20 bikes were set afire at that time.
On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control.
In Bagerhat, some AL men allegedly attacked BNP leaders and activists in the PC College area of the district town in the morning, injuring at least 8 people. District BNP President and party candidate for Bagerhat-2 parliamentary seat MA Salam alleged that he along with his leaders and activists in 4 microbuses was carrying out electioneering from the party office around 11:15 am when a group of Juba League and BCL members attacked them.
However, district Juba League convener Sardar Nasir Uddin denied the allegation, saying the attack might have taken place for BNP's internal conflict. Bagerhat SP of Police Pankaj Chandra Roy said he was unaware of such incident.
In Natore, 2 BNP activists were injured in an attack allegedly by some miscreants at Station Bazar area on Sunday noon during election campaign. At a press conference, BNP candidate Sabina Yasmin for Natore-2 constituency alleged that a group of Awami League leaders and activists attacked them with hammers while conducting election campaign, leaving several activists, including women, injured.
She described the condition of Abdul Obaidul Tanu and Shariful Islam Mukul as critical.
In Rangamati, some BNP men allegedly attacked AL leaders and activists at Bhedvedi area of the district in the evening, injuring four people.
At a press conference, female MP from reserved seat Feroza Begum Chinu alleged that BNP men swooped on the ruling party men around 6:30 pm while they were conducting electioneering.
In Faridpur, at least 20 leaders and activists of ruling Awami League were injured as the supporters of independent candidate in Faridpur-4 Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon their election campaign camp at Piajkhali Bazar in Sadarpur upazila in the evening.
Locals said the followers of Nixon, led by Deukhali union parishad chairman Omar Faruk Bapari, launched the attack.
On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control, said Lutfar Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadarpur Police Station.
Police arrested the UP chairman in this connection, he said.
In Brahmanbaria, Awami League men set fire and vandalised an office of BNP candidate Engineer Khaleque Hossain Mahmud Shyamal for Brahmanbaria-3 constituency on Saturday night, said Jahirul Islam, BNP district general secretary, in a press conference yesterday.