BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday strongly condemned the gun attack on the party’s candidate for Chattogram-8 Ershad Ullah, describing it as a clear attempt to create chaos and disrupt the upcoming 13th national election.

In a statement, he also demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for the attack.

“Such incidents have been carried out with the aim of putting the current interim government in difficulty and obstructing the upcoming national election,” the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said there is no alternative but to deal with these miscreants firmly and decisively.

He said Ershad Ullah sustained bullet injuries while campaigning this afternoon and was later admitted to Evercare Hospital in Chattogram.

In his statement, Fakhrul expressed deep concern and strong protest over what he described as a “brutal and inhuman attack” by miscreants.

“After the fall of the autocratic Awami regime through the student-led mass movement, some miscreants are once again attempting to create instability and anarchy in the country for their own gain,” he said.

The BNP leader said the gun attack on Ershad Ullah and others is a clear manifestation of this malicious effort.

He urged the people of all classes and professions, irrespective of political affiliation, to unite to protect democracy, citizens’ right to vote and public safety. “If we fail to remain united, these miscreants, lying in wait, will rise again and threaten the very existence of our country,” Fakhrul warned.

He also prayed for the swift recovery of Ershad Ullah and others injured in the attack.

A man was shot dead and two others, including Ershad Ullah, were injured in the attack by armed miscreants during campaigning at East Bayezid Hamzarbagh (Chalitati) in Chattogram on Wednesday.

Officer-in-charge of Bayezid Police Station Arifur Rahman said the gunmen appeared around 6 pm during Ershad Ullah’s campaign and opened fire, killing Sarwar Babla on the spot and injuring two others.