Voters of Sherpur-3 (Jhenaigati-Sreebordi) are waiting for a tough fight in the upcoming parliamentary elections between an uncle and his nephew as both have strong hold in the area.

Uncle z of Awami League (AL) and his nephew Mahmudul Haque Rubel of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are in the election race. 

Rubel was elected from this constituency in the 1995 by-election as an independent candidate after the death of his father Dr Md Sherajul Haque, who was elected in 1991.

Rubel also won in 1996 and 2001 as BNP candidate.

Chand, younger brother of Rubel's father, won the race in 2008 and 2014.

Rubel alleged that he and his party men are facing serious from AL men every day since campaigning started. “I have never seen such a situation during election period where attacks and obstruction by the AL are regular incidents,” Rubel added.

Thirty cases have been lodged accusing around 500 party men since December 12, 50 of whom have been arrested. Some election camps have been ransacked and torched, alleged Rubel.

He alleged that he and his workers came under attack by AL men at Tinani Bazar area in Jhenaigati upazila on Saturday.

 “I started my political career in my youth but I never faced such an 'unexpected' and 'odd' situation,” lamented Rubel. “Is it a general election when the candidate and men of the ruling party are campaigning freely but we are attacked by AL men or arrested,” Rubel said.

He also alleged that detectives are also visiting the voters' houses and threatening them to cast vote for 'boat.'

Officer-in-Charge of Detective Branch of Police (DB) in Sherpur Md Nowjesh Ali Miah refuted the allegations.

Admitting the untoward incident at Tinani Bazar, the AL candidate said he never supports such incidents.

Refuting the allegations of attacks on BNP men and obstruction in their campaign, Chand also made a counter allegation saying, “BNP men have torched our election symbol 'boat' at different places and tore off AL's posters.”