B’baria by-polls: Sattar's rival candidate missing for 2 days

Abu Asif Ahmed, an independent candidate in the Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail-Ashuganj) by-polls, has been missing for the last two days.

The MP hopeful went out of his house in Ashuganj on Friday and he could not be reached over the phone since evening that day, his wife Meherunnesa told The Daily Star.

Voters consider Asif, a former upazila chairman, to be the main rival of another independent runner Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, an expelled BNP leader who is contesting the by-election with blessings from the ruling Awami League's.

Meherunnesa alleged that police conducted searches at their home several times after Asif went missing.

"We are being harassed so that we cannot appoint polling agents for the February 1 by-polls."

She said they would take legal action today if they failed to trace Asif by yesterday.

Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police Md Shakhawat Hossain said they didn't have any information that law enforcers picked up Asif.

"We have not received any complaint from Abu Asif Ahmed's family about harassment by police," he added.

On Wednesday, a team of the Detective Branch of police arrested Musa Mia, 80, head of Asif's election campaign, from his home in Ashuganj Purba Bazzar area.

He was sent to jail the following day in a case over a recent clash in Ashuganj.

Apart from Sattar and Asif, four other candidates are contesting the by-polls.