Repeated attacks on BNP candidates in Dhaka, Ctg

Six journalists among 200 hurt: Kalyan Party chief Syed Muhammad Ibrahim assaulted, Afroza Abbas forced to back from campaign

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Staff Reporter :
BNP candidate for Dhaka-9 constituency Afroza Abbas and Chattogram-2 constituency Colonel (retd) Azim Ullah Bahar came under attacks again on Sunday allegedly by Awami League activists while conducting electioneering in the respective areas.
At least 200 campaigners were injured in the separate attacks in Dhaka’s Maniknagar and in Chattagram’s Fatikchhari upazila. They severe injured men have been taken loal cliics and hospitals, Police said.
In Dhaka, BNP candidate for Dhaka-9 constituency Afroza Abbas and her supporters came under attack for the third time by the ruling party men during conducting electioneering in the city’s Maniknagar area, leaving more than 100 including some journalists.
Talking to reporters at her Shahjahanpur residence in the afternoon, Afroza said she along with
her supports was going to Mugdha’s Maniknagar in a procession around 1:00pm to conduct electioneering.
“As our procession reached Maniknagar crossing, a group of ruling party men, led by local Swechchasebak League leader Thunda Babu, swopped on us and bet my supporters and journalists with rods and sticks,” she said.
The BNP candidate said a photojournalist, Haider Ali and other journalists were injured seriously as the attackers beat him mercilessly.
She also claimed the attack left over 100 of her supporters injured.
Afroza said she was forced to return home halting her campaign following the attack.
On December 18, ruling party men reportedly attacked Afroza and her supporters during their electioneering in the city’s Khilgaon area and her campaign convoy came under attack twice at Kamalapur and Madartek in the city by ruling party followers on December 12.
Meanwhile, Oikyofront backed Chattgram-5 constituency candidate and Bangladesh Kalyan Party President Major General (rtd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim’s motorcade was attacked by the miscreants near Gate No.1 of Chattogram University (CU) at Hathazari upazila in the district on Sunday afternoon.
 At least 15 campaigners were inured during the attack and they were admitted separate clinics, sources said.
Beside, BNP candidate for Chattogram-2 constituency Colonel (retd) Azim Ullah Bahar and 19 of his supporters were injured as Awami League men allegedly attacked a procession in favour of ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ in Fatikchhari upazila on Sunday.
The attack left at least 50 BNP men, including Bahar and former judge Faisal Mahmud Fayezi, injured.
Babul Akter, Officer-in-Charge of Fatikchhari Police Station, said a group of miscreants attacked the activists of Bahar while electioneering, leaving 10-12 people injured.

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