BNP denied permission for railway station
Chattogram city unit of BNP yesterday organised a reception programme for the party-nominated mayoral candidate Shahadat Hossain for the upcoming city corporation polls.
Although the party was planning to hold the event at the Chattogram Railway Station -- upon Shahadat's return from the capital, they did not get permission from the authorities concerned, alleged leaders of the party.
BNP eventually accorded a reception to Shahadat, president of the party's Chattogram city unit, on the premises of its office at Nasiman Bhaban in Kazir Dewri area in the afternoon.
However, on February 19, Awami League leaders gave a reception to its mayor candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury at the same spot, as he reached there from Dhaka after receiving the party's nomination.
BNP on Monday nominated Shahadat to contest for the mayor post.
"We submitted the application to police on Tuesday, seeking permission to hold the event at the station on his [Shahadat's] return from Dhaka. But they did not allow us," said Abul Hashem Bakkar, general secretary of the party's city unit.
At the reception programme, Shahadat also expressed his frustration over the issue.
"Awami League got permission to hold a similar programme there for its mayoral candidate a few days ago," he said. He urged the administration and law enforcers not to be "bias".
Earlier, several hundred BNP activists thronged the station around 2:30pm to receive the mayoral aspirant. Unable to do so, they went back to the party office.
Despite repeated attempts, Mahabubor Rahman, commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, could not be reached for comments.
Contacted, Abdul Warish, deputy commissioner (special branch) of CMP, said, "We had information that some untoward incident may take place at the event. That's why we did not give them [BNP] permission to hold the reception programme at the station, considering public safety."
On February 15, the ruling Awami League nominated Rezaul, joint general secretary of the party's Chattogram city unit, instead of incumbent mayor AJM Nasir Uddin.
On February 16, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the upcoming CCC elections, slated for March 29.
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