23 December 2018, Sun, 2:06

Election-friendly atmosphere is not visible in Dhaka-15 constituency, alleges Dr. Shafiqur Rahman

Reiterates demand for immediate release of Dr. Rezaul Karim and other detainees

20 party alliance’s candidate for Dhaka-15 constituency Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has said in a statement issued on 23 December 2018 that, there is no healthy atmosphere in my constituency which is required for a free, fair and credible election. I am urging the concerned authorities to create a congenial environment immediately.

Since the declaration of election schedule, the law enforcers and the terrorist cadres of the ruling party candidate have created a reign of terror and panic in my constituency. The law enforcers and the ruling party cadres are obstructing our electioneering, abducting my people, attacking my supporter’s houses and intimidating the mass voters. Even they are not allowing us neither to hang poster nor to distribute leaflets.

My election campaign’s coordinator Dr. Rezaul Karim has been arrested along with his drivers. Many activists including Dr. Abdul Halim, Nazrul Islam, Amir Hamza Shohag, Hasina Begum, Abida Begum and Nazrul Islam have been abducted and they are still traceless. Police has also arrested Dhaka city North unit BNP’s joint general secretary Rezaur Rahman Topon and 4 others. Awami goons have brutally assaulted two activists of Chhatradal on last 21 December. The terrorists also vandalized their houses. Terror activities are going on every where in my constituency. How people will go to the poll center to cast their vote amid such an adverse atmosphere? It has been proved as the government has no more public support, so they are in fear of massive defeat. In this backdrop, they are creating anarchy in my area and other parts of the country to destroy electoral atmosphere in a bid to push the nation towards anarchy. The only way to save this nation from such anarchic situation is to create an atmosphere for holding a free, fair and credible election.

Under the circumstances, I am urging the concerned authority to release my election campaign’s coordinator Dr. Rezaul Karim and other political detainees for the sake of a fair election in my constituency as well as in other parts of the country.