B’baria-2 By-Polls: ‘‘Missing’ candidate reappears

Former BNP leader and a candidate in Brahmanbaria-2 by-polls, Abu Asif Ahmed, who was missing for six days before and during the election, reappeared yesterday and claimed that he went into hiding of his own accord.

"As the election came nearer, I felt a lot of pressure ... I couldn't bear it. That is why I went away. I came back once the election was over," he told The Daily Star at his home in Brahmanbaria's Ashuganj upazila around 6:45pm yesterday -- three hours after he reappeared -- in the presence of his wife Meherunnesa Meherun.

Asked about the pressure he was facing, he would not comment.

Meherunnesa said, "My husband was feeling insecure for at least three days before he went missing. That is why he went away during the polls and came back once it was over.

"He was so upset that he even forgot to take his mobile phone when he left that day [January 27]."

Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain, superintendent of Brahmanbaria police, around 2:00pm said Asif's family members found out that he was staying at a house in the capital's Bashundhara area.

He returned to his Ashuganj house around 4:00pm, the SP said quoting his family members.

"We will quiz him to know what really happened -- where did he go and why," he told The Daily Star.

Asif left home on January 27 evening and did not return.

On January 31, his wife filed a written complaint with the chief election commissioner through email demanding them to find her husband. She later filed a general diary with Ashuganj Police Station.

The Brahmanbari-2 by-election was held on Wednesday without presence of Abu Asif Ahmed.

His rival candidate, Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan won as an independent.