Venting outrage on the streets
Aggrieved supporters of Awami League leaders who were not nominated by the party, blocked roads and attacked homes while demonstrating in at least seven districts.
The activists demanded cancellation of the nominations saying that the opinions of grassroots had been ignored.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. When his attention was drawn to the matter, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday told reporters, “The Awami League is a big family. So, some can be aggrieved or disheartened for not being nominated. There may be an untoward incident or two, which is not unusual.”
In Savar, at least five houses of the supporters of former lawmaker Talukder Tauhid Jong Murad were vandalised Sunday night allegedly by the supporters of AL pick Enamur Rahman.
Witnesses said some 20 to 25 Enamur supporters, riding about 10 motorcycles, began a procession in Vatpara area around 10:00pm.
They threw several crude bombs after the procession and vandalised at least five houses of Murad supporters. They broke the windows, doors and other possessions, families alleged.
“All of my family members were panicked when they attacked our house. Two of my children were injured by brick chunks thrown by them,” said Shahin, a resident of the area.
Jabun Nessa, mother of an AL activist, said, “We are in fear of further attacks. Although we know the attackers, but will not tell their names as they may attack us again.”
In another incident, Enamur supporters assaulted Murad's aide Mukter Hossain in Bokterpur area around 6:00pm on Sunday.
Enamur Rahman could not be contacted over the phone despite repeated attempts.
In Faridpur, supporters of AL Presidium Member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury marched through the town and set tyres on fire. They also blocked Dhaka-Khulna highway in Nagarkanda upazila around 10:45am yesterday. Police cleared the highway around 12:45pm.
They demanded that she be picked for Faridpur-2. The AL's nominee for the seat has not been revealed.
In Jamalpur, supporters of AL lawmaker Rezaul Karim yesterday blocked roads and demonstrated at several places in the town demanding his nomination for Jamalpur-5.
The AL is yet to decide its final pick and has kept both Hira and Mozaffor Hossain as candidates.
Agitating supporters of Hira blocked Tomaltola intersection and streets in Nandina, Narundi and Gopalpur areas. They also blocked Jamalpur-Tangail road in Beltia from 10.30am to 11.30am.
In Netrokona, activists protested the party's nomination of Manu Majumdar for Netrakona-1. They also blocked Kalmakanda-Netrokona road at Baboi Gutura Bazar for half-an-hour.
In Jhalakathi, supporters of AL leader Moniruzzaman Monir marched through the town demanding cancellation of the nomination of Bazlul Haque Haroon for Jhalakathi-1.
In Sylhet, hundreds of AL men blocked Dhaka-Sylhet highway in different parts of Osmaninagar upazila yesterday afternoon demanding that the party does not give the seat to an ally party.
Jatiya Party leader Yahya Chowdhury is the lawmaker of the area. AL activists fear that another JP leader may get the ticket of the AL-led alliance.
The activists blocked streets in Sherpur, Begumpur, Sadipur, Kalarai Bazar, Goalabazar, Tazpur Bazar and Kurua Bazar areas in the afternoon.
In Kurigam, AL men blocked Kurigam-Rangpur highway with similar demands.
They also demonstrated at several places of the town, said locals.
In Bramhanbaria, supporters of Moinuddin Moin blocked Dhaka-Sylhet highway for over an hour and demonstrated in Ashuganj, demanding his nomination for Brahmanbaria-2.
The resulting tailbacks reached nearly 5km.
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