Ashraful Hossen Alam (Hero Alam), who contested yesterday as an independent candidate from Bogura-4 (Kahalu and Nandigram upazilas), was beaten allegedly by AL men while he was visiting a polling center in Chakolma Govt Primary School in Nandigram upazila.

A video clip of the incident went viral on online platforms yesterday evening.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Hero said that after he heard that AL men were “stuffing ballots” at the centre, he went there. “At least 15 AL men, including Nandigram upazila's former Krishak League president, attacked and beat me badly,” he said.

The attackers allegedly asked why he was creating violence while they were voting peacefully. Hero claimed that he was earlier attacked at the Bagdara polling centre.

“Wherever I visited, AL men threaten me, rushed behind me. Therefore, I announced that I will boycott the polls around 2:00pm yesterday at a press conference,” he said. 

Hero alleged that opposition candidates also threatened his agents, beat them, and kicked them out from   the polling centers after which they began stuffing ballots the night before the polls. “I went to the presiding officers and the administration but got no response,” he said.

“Therefore, I gave a written complaint to the Returning Officer with my allegations yesterday afternoon,” he added. 

Officer-In-Charge of Nandigram Police Station Nasir Uddin said they heard of the incident but Hero did not go to them with a complaint. “We will investigate the matter and action will be taken accordingly,” he said.

The RO of Bogura said he had received Hero's written complaint around 3:40pm yesterday.

When asked what action would be taken in this regard, RO Foyez Ahmed said, “There is nothing to take action for. He made allegations, we heard them.”

However, when he was reminded that the allegation was made by a candidate accusing AL men of assault, he said, “Let's see, action will be taken later.”