Rajshahi-4: Allegation against AL candidate's supporters of attacking opponents, 7 hurt

Mobile phones were snatched away, Jillur claimed
Express Report
  ২৮ ডিসেম্বর ২০২৩, ১৫:৩৭

At least seven supporters of an independent candidate for Rajshahi-4 constituency Enamul Haque were injured in an attack allegedly by the supporters of Awami League nominated candidate Abul Kalam Azad in Sreepur union of Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi district on Wednesday.

The attack was made within just two days after both the feuding groups gave undertaking to the district’s returning officer and superintendent of police that they would not get locked into a clash centring the national parliamentary elections scheduled to be held January 7.

Three of the injured were identified as current parliament members and also independent candidate Enamul’s former personal secretary Jillur Rahman, Sreepur union Awami League’s organising secretary Bajlur Rahman and party activist Alamgir Hossain were admitted to Upazila Health Complex.  They were released after giving first aid.

Jillur said that some 20 to 25 supporters of the Awami League-backed candidate riding on motorbikes came to Sreepur Government Primary School on Wednesday and attacked them with sticks, rods and other locally-made weapons when they were conducting campaigns by distributing leaflets among voters.

The attack left seven supporters including him injured, Jillur said.

Moreover, three mobile phone sets were snatched away from them when they were trying to call police, according to him.

He alleged that police came to the spot around one hour after the incident though it takes five minutes to reach there from the police station.

Confirming the incident, Bagmara police station’s Inspector (investigation) Soheb Khan said they sent force to the spot after being informed.

Some people were injured in the attack by the Awami League supporters, he said, adding that legal actions will be taken once complaints are lodged.

Earlier on Tuesday, three supporters of the independent candidate were injured in an attack by the ruling party’s fellows.