A Chhatra League leader attacked the BNP candidate for Narayanganj-3 constituency Azharul Islam Mannan at a law and order meeting on electoral code of conduct at Sonargaon upazila parishad today.

Mannan told The Daily Star that the Chhatra League leader Ikramul Hasan alias Rony Billah entered the Upazila Parishad conference room and attacked him in presence of the OC and the UNO. 

He said Rony Billah hit him with water bottle, suffocated him and tried to hit with iron rod.  He said, later police rescued him.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Md Shahinul Islam, Sonargaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Morshed Alam and eight candidates were present at the meeting. 

Police arrested Rony Billah, son of Nasiruddin of Bhattapur village, and later a mobile court jailed him for three months, the UNO said.

AL men foil Rob, Manna’s electioneering

The electioneering of Jatiya Oikyafront candidate for Dhaka-18, Shaheed Uddin Mahmud, is hindered allegedly by the activists of Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance on Thursday, December 13, 2018. The photo shows that after been bared by the AL men, Rob and Manna deliver speeches and instruct the party men on polls day.

The electioneering of Jatiya Oikyafront candidate for Dhaka-18, Shaheed Uddin Mahmud, was hindered allegedly by the activists of Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance this afternoon.

JSD President ASM Abdur Rob and Nagoric Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna along with a number of their followers started the election campaign in Uttar Khan area of the constituency.

At one stage, the ruling Awami League men also swarmed Rob and Manna around and started chanting slogans for “Boat,” and also chased them, our staff reporter reports quoting the Oikyafront leaders.

On information, police rushed to the spot and took the situation under control by taking the Oikyafront leaders to a safe place.

Shaheed Uddin Mahmud, also the leader of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, is contesting the polls with “Sheaf of Paddy” against his counterpart Awami League nominated candidate advocate Sahara Khatun in the parliamentary constituency.

After been bared by the AL men, Rob and Manna equivocally claimed that their candidates are being hindered by the ruling quarter deliberately.

They also urged the voters and their supporters to guard the polling centres from the early hour of the voting day.

BNP candidate’s motorcade attacked in Noakhali

Besides, the motorcade of BNP nominated candidate for Noakhali-6 constituency, Engineer Mohammad Fazlul Azim came under attack allegedly by Awami League men this evening.

At least 15 leaders and activists from both the ruling and opposition camps were injured during the attack, reports our Noakhali correspondent.

A group of ruling party men attacked his motorcade and snatched three motorcycles of his followers away when he was carrying out the electioneering in Thanar hat area of Nolerchar union, Azim alleged.

The Awami League men also carried out another attack on his party men at Darbesh Bazar in Chandi union without any provocation, leaving some of his party men injured, he alleged.       

The injured activists were given primary treatment at different local hospitals, claimed Azim. 

Meanwhile, AL nominated candidate for the same constituency, Ayesha Ferdous, said BNP candidate and its followers started election campaign equipped with “firearms” and delivered provocative speeches.

M Ilias Sharif, superintendent of police in Noakhali, said a chase and counter took place between the supporters of AL and BNP candidates as provocative speeches came from both the camps.

On information, police went there and brought the situation under control.

The Election Commission (EC) is not performing its responsibilities constitutionally, Jatiya Oikyafront’s leader Dr Kamal Hossain alleged today.

“EC is doing nothing to stop attacks on the opposition activists,” he said at a press conference at Oikyafront’s Paltan office in Dhaka this afternoon.

Criticising the commission’s role, he said: “The opposition candidates are being attacked everywhere, but there is no investigation by the EC”.

There is no legal action taken yet by the commission against the attackers, he alleged; adding that he finds slack in initiatives taken by the body.

Expressing concern over the matter, he said: “I have doubt over the EC whether it will be able to hold a fair and credible election if such situation is going on”.

He called on the party activists to stay alert so that the voters can go to the polling stations safely and cast their votes.

WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST GOVERNMENT?

BNP and JatiyaOikyafront have been blaming the government for carrying out mass arrest and harassment of their contenders, leaders and activists deliberately across the country ahead of the December 30 general election.

After announcement of the election schedule, BNP has been lodging complaints with the Election Commission (EC) seeking its step to stop the ongoing arrests and harassment for creating a level-playing field to hold the 11th parliamentary election in a credible manner.

WHO ARE THE TOP LEADERS WHO HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK?

On December 14, JatiyaOikyafront key leader Dr Kamal Hossain’s motorcade came under attack near Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur while he was returning after paying tribute, leaving at least 25 to 30 people injured.

On December 11, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam’s motorcade also came under attack, allegedly by AL men, in Thakurgaon’sDanarhat village during his election campaign.

At least 10 people were hurt and four vehicles were also vandalised in the attack, according to BNP.

On December 15, BNP leader Mirza Abbas reportedly came under attack when he was electioneering near Shegunbagicha area of Dhaka. Seven to eight BNP activists were wounded in the attack.

Today’s episode of ‘The Election Talks 2018’ brings former student politician and journalist Subhash Singha Roy, and political analyst Dr Sakhawat Hossain.

Subhash, a former leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League and a journalist, spoke about the fairness of the election and expressed his views over the allegations against ruling party.

Dr Sakhawat, on the other hand, spoke about the harassment, arrests and cases against opposition political activists to reflect on the situation on the field now.

Watch the video to know more…

Jatiya Oikyafront today announced to hold a rally in Dhaka on Monday protesting “vote rigging” in the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018.

Oikyafront leader and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rab came up with the announcement at a press conference at Dr Kamal Hossain’s chamber in Motijheel of Dhaka.

Earlier, Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, held an emergency meeting at his office to work out the alliance’s action programmes to mark the 1st anniversary of the December 30 national polls.

The rally will be held in front of the National Press Club around 2:00pm on the day, Rab said.

Responding to a query, he added, “No permission. Why the permission is needed to hold rally in front of the press club?”

Oikyafront leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna, responding to a query, said vote rigging took place on the night on December 29 and they will hold the protest rally on that day.

“We will go for more two days programme if any barrier comes from any corner,” Manna said at the press conference.

Addressing the press conference, Kamal said they would strengthen their unity to ensure people’s voting rights and to make the country’s elections meaningful.