BNP supporters 'harassed'

Allegation of law enforcers harassing opposition BNP men came to the forefront ahead of the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) elections.
For the last couple of days, law enforcers have been raiding houses, mostly those of BNP supporters, in different areas of the city. This has created panic among the opposition men.
BNP has repeatedly made formal allegations to the returning officer about the harassment.
The Daily Star has talked to at least 50 local activists and leaders of BNP and they said police had raided their houses several times and that they had been living elsewhere rather than at their houses fearing political harassment ahead of the city corporation polls.
Mashiur Rahman, a leader of the city unit pro-BNP youth body Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, said: "Plainclothes law enforcers came twice at my house in Karimkuti area looking for me."
Mashiur has six cases filed against him, all of which are related to hartal violence. He is out on bail in all the cases.
Yesterday he told The Daily Star that he had not been staying home for the last couple of days fearing police harassment.
BNP-backed candidate Ahsan Habib Kamal at a press conference alleged that law enforcers had sided with the ruling party-backed candidate. He said he was doubtful that the BCC polls would be free and fair.
At the press conference, Barisal south BNP Convener Ebadul Haq claimed that their rival, Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Hiron, was distributing money among voters. He demanded deployment of the army for a free and fair poll.
Deputy Commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police Shoeb Ahmed, however, dismissed the allegations. He said they had prepared a list of criminals regardless of their party affiliation. Police were looking for those criminals to maintain law and order, he added.
"Nothing has been done to harass anyone," he claimed.
AL-backed candidate Shawkat Hossain Hiron is, however, optimistic about a free and neutral BCC polls.
Meanwhile, talking to The Daily Star both the frontline mayoral aspirants pledged to work together if elected in the polls.