Chattogram city polls 2021: Cases filed against 600 BNP men
Shahadat Hossain, BNP's mayoral candidate for the Chattogram city polls, has vowed not to leave the electoral battle despite what he said were various obstacles and harassment by police and ruling Awami League men.
Asserting that most voters are with him, Shahadat said he has instructed the BNP leaders and activists to remain in the field till the end of the polls.
"I am a seasoned politician. 80 percent voters are with me. It is obvious that I will win the election and you will find proof in favour of my claim if you conduct a survey among voters. So, I will remain in the battle of the election till the end," he said.
In an interview with The Daily Star on Sunday, he said, "I have told my workers that I will arrange their bail if police arrest them and in case they are injured or come under attack, I will have them treated in hospital. But we will not bow down to intimidation."
Shahadat said winning the polls or beating his main rival AL mayoral aspirant Rezaul Karim Chowdhury is not a challenge for him as he claimed Chattogram city is a BNP stronghold.
"My main challenge is the law enforcement agencies -- the way they are filing false cases against the BNP men. In the last seven days, cases were filed against more than 600 BNP men to harass and intimidate them," he said.
"Police and ruling party men are going to the houses of BNP men involved in the electioneering -- asking them to leave the area and return after the end of voting."
Shahadat alleged police have arrested their campaigners, raided the houses and campaign offices of many BNP-supported councillor aspirants, threatened their relatives, and warned them not to deploy polling agents during the polling to be held today.
"Under these circumstances, it might be difficult for me to get the necessary number of BNP leaders and workers to work as my polling agents in the voting centres," he also said.
The BNP contestant alleged the Election Commission has failed to ensure a congenial atmosphere and create a level playing field for holding the CCC polls in a free and fair manner.
"We have filed scores of complaints with the EC but it didn't pay heed to any of those," he added.
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