Mizanur Rahman Minu, the BNP candidate for Rajshahi-2, yesterday said his party would withdraw their candidates if Awami League (AL) declared the seats that they prefer to “win by force”.  

Asking to “stop atrocities on BNP men and their families by law enforcers and political goons”, Minu said, “Tell us which constituencies you want to win by force and we will withdraw our candidates from those seats.”

Minu, also an adviser to the BNP chairperson, made the call while addressing a views exchange meeting at Rajshahi deputy commissioner's conference room.

SM Abdul Kader, the returning officer (RO) of Rajshahi, organised the meeting for electoral candidates and their agents in all six constituencies in Rajshahi district.

The meeting was attended by three BNP candidates, one AL candidate and agents of other candidates.

Minu, during his speech, gave an account of an incident when a group of plainclothes armed men terrorised Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul -- his election agent and also a former mayor of Rajshahi city -- and his family by besieging his residence for an entire night yesterday. 

When Minu went to the scene in the morning, the armed men refused to identify themselves to him, he also said. 

Minu said that BNP leader Waliul Haque Rana's child is still suffering from trauma ever since the law enforcers raided their house during the last city corporation election.

Besides, the law enforcers and a group of AL men were also maiming BNP leaders after abducting them, Minu also said. “Give us names of the BNP men who are wanted in criminal cases or whom you consider a threat for the upcoming elections. We will hand them over to you. But please, stop torturing them and raiding their houses.”

However, the election atmosphere in his constituency has so far been peaceful, the BNP leader said.

Speaking at the programme, Abu Hena, BNP candidate in Rajshahi-3, demanded removal of the officer-in-charge (OC) of Bagmara Police Station.

He claimed that the law enforcers and AL men were harassing BNP leaders and activists in the area as the OC unlawfully prepared a list of 178 BNP leaders five months ago.

Rebutting Hena's claim, Mosleh Uddin, election agent for AL candidate Enamul Haque, said locals have given “no confidence” to Hena as he has stayed away from the upazila for the last ten years.

BNP candidate in Rajshahi-3 Shafikul Haque Milon said, due to the terrifying atmosphere created by AL men, he has not yet been able to campaign in Mohonpur upazila, when the election is only five days away.

He has provided the RO with names of the AL men responsible for establishing a reign of terror in the area, Shafiqul also said.

Abdus Salam, candidate of Islami Andolon Bangladesh in Rajshahi-6, alleged that he was not allowed to campaign in his own village.

“Ours is a very small party and we are hardly able to provide our agents in all voting centres. Still, the AL men did not let us hang posters, let alone do our campaigning,” he said.

The AL candidate in Rajshahi-5, Mansur Rahman, however, claimed that the situation is peaceful in his constituency.

Shafiqul Islam, Zaker party candidate in Rajshahi-5, claimed that a police official had recently told him that it would be the same if one voted for him or threw the ballot into the dustbin.  

When the RO asked Shafiqul to file a complaint, he said, “I won't file any complaint as the result of a complaint against a policeman is known to all.”

Returning Officer SM Abdul Kader in his speech said the candidates have to trust the administration.

Urging all candidates to follow the electoral code of conduct strictly and take part in the election with fanfare, the RO also said he was sending all the complaints to judicial enquiry teams formed for the elections. “Action will be taken as per their findings”.