Khulna city polls: BNP mayoral candidate resumes election campaign

Nazrul Islam Monju, BNP mayoral aspirant in the upcoming Khulna City Corporation polls, resumed his election campaign four hours after he had declared to suspend electioneering protesting “wholesale arrests” of BNP leaders and activists.

Monju started the campaign around 1:00pm following a press conference, saying that he has taken the upcoming elections as a challenge.

At the conference, Monju also demanded immediate release of the “arrested” BNP leaders.

After halting his election campaign around 9:00am, Monju claimed that that law enforcement agencies arrested 21 leaders and activists of BNP and its associate organisations to create panic among the party members.

"The law enforcers arrested the BNP leaders and activists between 12midnight and 4:00am today from various parts of Khulna without any provocation and reason," Monju told The Daily Star.

Khulna City BNP’s Publicity Secretary Asaduzzaman Murad and City Jubo Dal’s President Mahbub Hasan Pyaru were among those who were arrested, Monju claimed.

They have filed complaint with the Election Commission in this regard, he added.

Monju, a former lawmaker, also said the party will sit in a meeting to decide their next course of action and will also hold a press briefing later in the day to inform the media about further plans.

Monju started his election campaign yesterday morning and continued till night amid torrential rain.

Conatcted, Khulna Metropolitan Police spokesperson Sonali Sen however told The Daily Star that the claim of arrest was baseless.

Five people were arrested as multiple cases were filed against them in different police stations including Shonadanga and Daulatpur, Sonali said.

Owing to the upcoming elections, the arrestees were carrying out various subversive activities around town leading to their arrest, she added.

The elections to Khulna City Corporation will be held on May 15.