TANGAIL — Supporters of BNP candidate advocate Ahmed Azam Khan are accused of vandalizing three election offices and locking two others belonging to independent candidate and industrialist Salauddin Alamgir Rasel (deer symbol) in the Basail-Sakhipur constituency.
Fazlul Haque Bachchu, the agent for the deer symbol, filed a written complaint with the assistant returning officer about the matter on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Bachchu alleged that supporters of the BNP candidate vandalized three election offices of independent candidate Salauddin Alamgir Rasel’s deer symbol in the Kalmegha area of Bahuria union in Sakhipur upazila. The vandalized offices were the Salanga office under the Rangamati center, the Sonatla intersection office under the Ilimjan High School center, and the Dewanpur office under the Dewanpur center. In addition, the Behrataíl office in Behrataíl union and the Basarchala office in Kalia union were locked.
The written complaint stated that supporters of BNP paddy-sheaf candidate Ahmed Azam Khan vandalized three election offices on Saturday night, Jan. 24, and locked two election offices on Sunday morning, Jan. 25. They also beat up supporters of independent candidate Salauddin Alamgir Rasel and injured them. Two billboards of the independent candidate’s deer symbol were also vandalized in the Sholapratima and Kalia areas of the same constituency.
Salauddin Alamgir Rasel, chairman of Labib Group and the independent candidate for the deer symbol, strongly condemned the vandalism and lockings, saying his rival’s supporters were committing such acts out of fear of defeat. “Hatred and retaliation benefit no one,” he said. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure a peaceful election environment and that people can exercise their voting rights freely, he said, urging his own supporters to handle the situation with patience.
BNP paddy-sheaf candidate Ahmed Azam Khan said the independent candidate Salauddin Alamgir was suffering from electoral bankruptcy. “That is why he is making various imaginary, baseless and false allegations to muddy the situation. The people of Basail-Sakhipur understand this and are eager to exercise their voting rights with understanding,” he said.
Muhammad Tajul Islam, senior election officer of Tangail district, said an election inquiry and judicial committee had been formed to prevent and control election irregularities. If complaints were filed with them, they would take action as quickly as possible, he said. If the inquiry or investigation committee finds evidence of allegations, it could immediately bring the guilty to justice and arrange punishment.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report