In the last 12 days in Bogura election campaign, 12 cases were filed with five police stations in the district and over 8,000 BNP men were sued by police and AL alliance leaders on allegations of sabotage, vandalism, arson and explosion of crude bombs.
Among them, 721 are named and 7,347 are unnamed accused, and more than 50 BNP men were sent to jail in the last 12 days, police said.
BNP candidates Kazi Rafiqul Islam of Bogura-1, Mosharaf Hosain of Bogura-4, Golam Mohamad Siraj of Bogura-5, and Masuda Momin of Bogura-3 constituencies alleged that AL leaders are filing ghost cases against BNP men and police are going to the homes of BNP supporters and threatening them not to campaign for 'sheaf of paddy.'
“Over 100 BNP men have been arrested in the last 11 days. We informed the returning officer (RO) about everything, but have not got any reply,” said district BNP President Saiful Islam.
They made these allegations at a press conference in their district party office on Saturday.
Twelve cases were filed with five police stations in the district from December 10 to December 23.
Seven of those cases were filed with Sonatala PS, two with Sariakandi PS, and one each with Bogura Sadar PS, Nandigram PS and Dhunat PS.
Clashes broke out at some places in Sonatala upazila on December 20 between the BNP men, police and AL supporters during a rally of Kazi Rafiqul Islam, BNP candidate for the Bogura-1 seat.
In this regard, seven cases have been filed so far with Sonatala PS against 478 named and over 7,000 unnamed BNP men.
Pakulla union AL Vice-President Ataur Rahman Geda filed a case on December 21 with the PS against 70 named and 2,000 to 3,000 unnamed BNP men on allegation of threats with firearms, vandalism and looting money from a union AL leader's house.
District BNP Joint Secretary MR Islam Sadhin and district Juba Dal President Sipar Al Baktiar, are listed as accused, said Inspector Zahid Hossain of the PS.
Police arrested 29 BNP men in this case and sent them to jail, said Inspector Zahid Hossain, also OC-investigation.
Zorgachha union AL man Rafiqul Islam filed another case against 234 named and 1,200 unnamed BNP men with the same police station on December 21 on allegation of vandalism of the Zorgachha union AL office on December 20 during the BNP candidate's election rally.
Another case was filed by the Padmapara ward AL President Zillur Rahman with the same PS on December 22 against 66 named and 900 unnamed BNP men on allegation of vandalising the AL campaign office in the village on December 20.
Another case was filed against 81 named and 1,200 unnamed BNP men with the PS on December 22 on allegation of exploding cocktails at a fried rice factory in Huyakua village during the BNP campaign on December 20.
Charpara ward Awami League President Ziaul Haq filed another case against 27 BNP named and 800 unnamed men on allegation of attacking his house, vandalising his shop and looting money during BNP's election campaign in the upazila on December 20.
More cases are being prepared to be filed in connection with electoral violence, said Sonatala PS OC Shariful Islam.
Eight separate cases were filed during the 12 days against BNP men with four other police stations in the district.
“We are taking every complaint of the BNP candidates seriously and sending those to the police. We are not discriminating against anyone. Please ask the SP about their allegations,” said Returning Officer Deputy Commissioner Foyez Ahmed.
When asked about to many cases against BNP men were filed during the last 12 days, Bogura Superintendent of Police Ali Ashraf Bhuiyan said, “BNP's allegation is baseless, they are not coming to us, they are going to the RO, who is giving their allegation to us and we are investigating each and every complaint by BNP.” He said police are also taking cases against AL men.
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