BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today sustained injuries in his hand while carrying out electioneering by a truck for his party candidate in Rangpur-3 by-polls.

Fakhrul fell down in the truck and sustained injuries in his left hand when the truck driver was slowing down speed of the vehicle suddenly during the campaign, said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a staff of BNP Chairperson’s media wing.

Local leaders and activists of the party rescued Fakhrul and admitted him to local Prime Medical College and Hospital immediately, BNP Chairperson’s media wing staff Sayrul Kabir Khan said.

The by-election to the Rangpur-3 constituency which fell vacant following the death of Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad is scheduled to be held on October 5.

Rita Rahman, daughter of BNP founder member Moshiur Rahman Jadu Mia, is contesting the by-polls with BNP’s electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy.’

Fakhrul took part the wayside rally at Paira intersection in the city this afternoon and later joined a procession riding a truck towards the Shapla Chattar as part of the election campaign.

Alleging mass discrimination to push it out of election, major political opposition Jatiya Oikyafront says it is now depending on the vote of the people.

“It's too apparent, the arrangement is complete to oust Oikyafront from the election,” Dr Kamal Hossain, key leader of the alliance, said in a press statement.

He alleged that the government had made “the arrangement” by pulling strings of the administration, judiciary, law enforcers, goons and the Election Commission.

“At this point, the people's vote is our hope. Voters never made a mistake in the past and they never will,” Kamal said.

He hoped that people would unite and overcome all challenges to appear for voting at the centres during the election on Sunday.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over Kamal's safety, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) yesterday offered to provide security for him.

Kamal, also the convener of Jatiya Oikyafront, however said he will seek police security only if he feels the need for it.

 Some DMP mid rank officials went to Kamal's chamber in Dhaka's Motijheel to discuss “security issues” around 12:10pm yesterday.

Prior to the meeting, several police teams took position in front of the chamber.

The meeting took place a day after a Jatiya Oikyafront delegation, led by Kamal, walked out of a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda following a heated exchange over the role of police during electioneering.

After meeting with the DMP, Kamal told reporters that the police officials said they would take security measures for him at both his house and chamber if needed.

“They even said they would provide transport security,” Kamal said.

Even though the DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia was supposed to meet Kamal, he could not go due to some other commitment and sent his apologies, he added.

Deputy Commissioner of Motijheel Division Anwar Hossain claimed that Kamal has expressed satisfaction over the security measures taken for him by law enforcers.

“We're here as part of our regular duty. We had an open discussion and wanted to know if he [Kamal] has any observations regarding his security and he said he'll inform us over phone if he notices anything,” Anwar said.

Responding to a question on whether the alliance would stay in the election, Kamal said, “We have to hold on to this. So that they [rivals] cannot say that we moved away. This is our right. Why should we move away? If they make it impossible at the end of the day, then people will see.”

He also said, “The government's actions are casting doubt regarding the credibility and fairness of the polls.”

Meanwhile Bangladesh Police Service Association protested a comment about police made by Kamal during Tuesday's meeting with the CEC.

“His comment was motivated, objectionable and inconsiderate,” they said in a statement.

Kamal, at the meeting, had said some police officials were “acting like beasts".

Rahat Ara Begum, wife of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, was barred from electioneering for her husband allegedly by ruling Awami League activists in Thakurgaon this morning.

Rahat came up with the allegation while addressing a press conference at her residence in Thakurgaon town this afternoon.

“I, along with my daughter and supporters, went to Bashirpara for election campaign but a gang of eight to 10 people, wielding sharp weapons, intercepted us. They threatened us to attack if we did not leave the place immediately,” she said.

They might be the activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League, she claimed.

Rahat was campaigning for Fakhrul who is contesting the upcoming 11th parliamentary election from Thakurgaon-1 constituency.

BNP district unit president Taimur Rahman was present during the press briefing.

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain today said no development is meaningful if people's right is not established in the country.

Dr Kamal, also president of Gonoforum, a component of Oikyafront, said this at a press briefing held at the alliance’s Purana Paltan office in Dhaka this afternoon.

However, he in a press statement expressed hope that if the government and the Election Commission hatch any blueprint for the national election, then people of the country will foil it.

Calling upon the countrymen to go to the polling stations and cast votes, Dr Kamal said, “Through casting votes to your desired candidates, ensure your (people) ownership of the country and restore its democracy”.

“The EC has to take full responsibility if it fails to hold a free, fair and credible election on December 30 and the countrymen will compel it to answer for its failure,” he said in the statement.

“The EC must ensure a peaceful atmosphere for holding a free and fair election,” the Oikyafront key leader said.

About the role of law enforcers ahead of the election, he said, “Their behaviour is not acceptable”.

He alleged that police along with the ruling party men have been putting bar on the opposition candidates during their electioneering.

The United Kingdom has urged the Bangladesh authorities for a full, credible and transparent resolution of all complaints related to the conduct of the December 30 general elections.

“While I welcome the participation of all opposition parties in these elections, I am aware of credible accounts of obstacles, including arrests, that constrained or prevented campaigning by opposition parties, and of irregularities in the conduct of elections on polling day that prevented some people from voting,” said British Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field.

He came up with the comments in a press statement yesterday following the announcement of the unofficial results for the 11th Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh.

“I deplore the acts of intimidation and unlawful violence that have taken place during the campaign period, and am deeply concerned by the incidents that led to so many deaths on polling day. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones,” the British minister said in the statement.

Terming free, fair, peaceful, and participatory elections essential to any functioning democracy, Minister Field said, “It is vital for the government and all political parties to now work together to address differences and find a way forward in line with the interests of the people of Bangladesh”.

Mentioning that the UK has a broad and important partnership with Bangladesh, and a significant Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK, Mark Field added, “We will continue to support the people of Bangladesh in their aspirations for a more stable, prosperous, and democratic future”.