Barred from campaigning

At least nine BNP candidates in different districts yesterday alleged that police and ruling Awami League men were obstructing their campaigns.

The accusation comes amid nonstop polls violence and arrests of opposition leaders and activists.

Two BNP candidates claimed they were kept confined to their village homes by police and AL men, while a number of BNP candidates sought security of their lives.

Besides, at least 35 people were injured in electoral violence, while police arrested at least 44 BNP men since Friday night from Barishal, Faridpur and Netrokona alone.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday admitted for the first time the “intensity of election violence is slightly higher” this time compared with previous years, reports UNB. He, however, blamed a “vested quarter” for the violence.

The minister's comments come just two days after police chief Javed Patwary boasted that election-time law and order was better than ever.

'OBSTRUCTION'

All five BNP candidates in Narsingdi yesterday sought security for themselves and their families.

They made the call at a joint press conference at the district Bar Association on Friday evening, claiming that AL men were frequently attacking their campaigns, but police took no action against the attackers.

 Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNP standing committee member and party candidate for Narsingdi-2, told the press conference that neither the local administration nor the Election Commission did anything to stop such attacks and police harassment.

Asked, district police superintendent Miraz Uddin Ahmmad said, “It's the duty of police to ensure security for all. It'll be better if candidates inform us about the time and venue of their campaign. We will then be able to arrange full security.”

The district unit president and general secretary of the AL could not be reached by phone for their comments.

Madaripur-2 BNP candidate Milton Baidya also alleged police harassment and obstruction to his campaign by the supporters of his Awami League rival Shahjahan Khan.

Shahjahan, also shipping minister, dismissed the claim. The district returning officer said they would take action upon getting specific allegations.

At a press conference at Jashore Press Club, Jessore-2 BNP candidate spoke of his fear for life in the face of “repeated attacks on his campaign by AL men”.

Jessore district AL President Shahidul Islam Milon said all the allegations were false and that the BNP candidate was campaigning in full swing.

BNP candidates for Chapainawabganj-2 and Gazipur-1 -- Aminul Islam and Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiquee -- also alleged obstruction and attacks by AL men.

“We are not being allowed to campaign. There is no such thing as level playing field. There is only torture, oppression, attack and cases,” Tanvir told a press conference at his office in the capital's Motijheel.

AL candidate for Chapainawabganj-2 Ziaur Rahman said the allegation against his party men was baseless.

Meanwhile, Chandpur-2 BNP contender Jalal Uddin alleged that police had kept him confined to his house at Ladhua village for around one week so that he could not run any campaign.

But Matlab Uttar Police Station Officer-in-charge Kabir Hossain claimed they did no such thing. Rather, a patrol police team were on duty near Matlab-Changerchar road, some 300 metres from the BNP candidate's home.

Pabna-2 BNP aspirant Selim Reza Habib brought similar allegations. He said police and AL men kept him confined to his home at Malifa from yesterday noon till evening.

The OC of Sujanagar Police Station told The Daily Star that many BNP men gathered in the house. So police took position there to prevent any unwanted incidents.

ATTACKS, VANDALISM

At least 26 people were hurt in Noakhali when supporters of the two groups clashed at Charjabbar under Suborno Char upazila yesterday.

Meanwhile, at least five BNP men were injured when alleged AL men attacked the campaign of BNP candidate for Netrokona-1 Kayser Kamal yesterday.

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) candidate for Chandpur-3 Shajahan Talukder filed a complaint with the returning officer yesterday that at least three of his supporters were hurt when AL men attacked his campaign in Warehouse and Circuit House area Friday evening.

Two election camps of BNP aspirant for Pabna-3 KM Anwarul Islam were vandalised, allegedly by AL men. At least three BNP men were injured in the attack in Chatmohor upazila Friday night.

Meanwhile, miscreants allegedly launched a bomb attack on the motorcade of AL candidate for Cumilla-2 Selima Ahmed Merry at Dariakandi of Titas upazila yesterday. No one was hurt in the incident.

In Sherpur, unknown people allegedly set fire to an electoral camp of AL candidate for Sherpur-3 AKM Fazlul Haque at Chotomalijikanda in Jhinaigati early hours yesterday.

In the capital, Chhatra League men obstructed a campaign rally of Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganasanghati Andolon and a candidate for Dhaka-12, at the main gate of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University yesterday, said a press release.

In Chattogram, two BCL groups chased each other in the evening when AL candidate for Chattogram-11 MA Latif was leaving North Colony area after electioneering.

Also in the port city, AL men allegedly vandalised a number of vehicles at the house of Abu Sufian, a BNP candidate for Chattogram-8, in the evening.

Two BNP men were injured during the attack, said Sufian.

Abul Bashar, OC of Chandgaon Police Station said, “We found the windshield of a pickup truck used for the election campaign broken. Some motorcycles were lying around and some windows of the first floor were broken.”

But he added Sufian could not identify any of the attackers.