Manikganj, Dec 25 (UNB) – BNP’s Manikganj-2 constituency candidate Mianul Islam Khan Shanta claimed that Awami League activists attacked his motorcade during electioneering at Harirampur Upazila on Tuesday.

He said he was first obstructed in front of the upazila’s Kouri Nurul Islam College. “A group of stick-wielding men later attacked my motorcade at Diabari in the morning,” he said.

“They vandalised five vehicles from my motorcade,” Mainul claimed.

The BNP candidate blamed the supporters of Awami League aspirant Momotaz Begom of obstructing his campaign, attacking his supporters and vandalising vehicles.

Not just Mainul, many other BNP candidates have raised similar allegations against the ruling party ahead of the December 30 national election.

“We cannot expect a free and fair election if the situation persists,” Mainul added.

Dhaka, Dec 25 (UNB) - Awami League joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said Dr Kamal is working as the guardian of those who still believe in Pakistani ideology.

The AL leader came up with the remark while briefing journalists at the political office of AL President Sheikh Hasina in the city’s Dhanmondi area. 

Abdur Rahman said, “Dr Kamal yesterday (Monday) pronounced the name of Yahya Khan who was one of the culprits behind the mass killing of 1971. If Dr Kamal stands in front of a mirror of conscience, he will see himself in the mirror.”

Jatiya Oikyafront chief Dr Kamal Hossain on Monday said those who try to deprive people of their voting right are the enemies of independence and successors of Pakistan’s Yahya Khan.

The AL leader went on saying, “Now, Dr Kamal is not only working as the guardian of those who not only believe in Pakistani ideology but also patronize the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, four national leaders, thousands of armed forces offices, including Major Khaled Mosharraf, Colonel Taher, Shafayet Jamil during the Liberation war, killers of 21st August and war criminals including their family members.”

BNP-Jamaat and Oikyofront men are attacking our people and creating violence across the country, alleged the senior AL leader.

“They also attacked, torched the election campaign offices and Awami League and its alliances by conducting violent activities…the recently leaked phone conversations are the proof. We have also been informed that they are planning to carryout violence sensing the certain defeat in the election."

The Awami League senior leader also called upon all to remain alert about the evil activities of BNP-Jammat and reply them through casting vote for ‘Boat’ symbol.

Chattogram, Dec 25 (UNB) –Three people sustained burn injuries in a petrol bomb attack on a procession of Awami League allegedly by some BNP activists during electioneering at Jahanabad in Sitakunda upazila on Tuesday.

The injured are Abu Salek, Mohammad Raihan and Taiab Uddin.

Witnesses said the activists of local unit Awami League brought out a procession in the area around 11 am and at the same time the BNP activists also brought out a procession.

When the processions of both parties reached Chairman ghata member bari area, a petrol bomb was hurled targeting the procession of Awami League, leaving three people burn injured.

The injured were taken to the burn unit of the Chattogram Medical College Hospital, said assistant sub-inspector AlauddinTalukdarof Chattogram Medical College Hospital outpost.

A chase and counter-chase took place between the activists of the two parties , leaving 15 people injured.

On information, a team of police went to the spot and brought the situation under control, said DelwarHossain, officer-in-charge of Sitakunda Police Station.

Necessary action will be taken against those involved in the bomb attack on Awami League procession, he said.

Dhaka, Dec 25 (UNB) –Jatiya Oikyafront leaders, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, on Tuesday walked out of a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) as they found the Commission’s attitude ‘biased and impolite’ one.

“We walked out of the meeting. It seems to us the Election Commission’s attitude was biased and indecorous,” BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters while emerging from the meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and other commissioners around 1:50pm.

Fakhrul also alleged that the government together with the Election Commission is trying to turn the election into a farce.

"We came here with the banner of Oikyafront today to inform Election Commission about the attacks and arrests of opposition leaders," he said adding, "We informed the EC about the attacks and arrest of our leaders several times. But we didn't get any response from them." 

Fakhrul said voters are now afraid whether they would be able to cast their votes.  "How will the voters go to cast their votes if this situation remains unchanged?" he asked.

The BNP leader claimed that there is no minimum environment for election. "The government and the Election Commission are jointly trying to spoil the election," he said.

Replying to a question about Oikyafront's latest decision, Fakhrul Islam said people will take the decision. "But we won’t let them score any goal in an empty field," he said.

Replying to another question about army deployment, another Oikyafront leader Nazrul Islam Khan said, "We sought army in the field of election. But the EC didn't let army to go in the field as they (army) are working under the EC."

The Election Commission is trying to destroy the army's image, Nazrul Islam claimed.

Earlier, a 10-member Oikyafront delegation, led by its chief Dr Kamal Hossain, sat in a meeting with the Commission at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city around 12 noon.

The other members include BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior BNP leaders Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Mostofa Mohsin Montu, Subrata Chowdhury and Nazrul Islam Khan.

Election Commissioners Mahbub Talukder and Rafiqul Islam and EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed were also present at the meeting.

Sunamganj, Dec 25 (UNB) – Police arrested a leader of Jagannathpur upazila unit BNP from Sayedpur Bazar in the upazila on Monday evening over sabotage charges.

A team of police arrested Syed Mosabbir Ahmed, 40, organising secretary of BNP, for planning to carryout sabotage activities ahead of the upcoming national election, said Sub-inspector Lutfar Rahman of Jagannathpur Police Station.

Besides, he was accused in two cases, said the SI.