A protester is seen attacking the car of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at Kawran Bazar in Dhaka yesterday.
By Mizan Rahman/Dhaka
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s motorcade came under attack at Karwan Bazar in Dhaka yesterday during her city election campaigning for the party-backed mayoral candidate Tabith Awal. Four persons were injured in the attack.
When the motorcade reached the Petrobangla building, a group of young persons attacked her motorcade. The attackers swooped on the vehicles shouting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans. They broke several vehicles with wooden sticks.
The injured included Zia’s personal secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, two security men Fazlul Karim and Faruk Hossain, and driver Shahzada Shahed. All of them have been admitted to United Hospital.
On Sunday, policemen deputed for the security of the BNP chief’s residence at Gulshan in the capital were withdrawn. The seven-member police team left the area around 7am, Syrul Kabir Khan, a staff of the BNP chief’s media wing, said.
In yesterday’s attack, scores of protesters reported to be ruling party men, carrying sticks with black flags separate groups chased Zia’s motorcade and blocked roads while it was passing through Rajlaxmi Complex, Rajuk Commercial Complex and North Tower in Uttara yesterday.
During the attack, the culprits also vandalsied several private vehicles, including a microbus and a truck, parked in front of Karwan Bazar.
“I don’t care - people are with us. Tabith’s popularity is driving the Awami League mad. It is restoring to criminal activities,” Zia said after wrapping up her electioneering at Norda.
During her campaign, she told reporters that they were getting huge response from voters.
“Revolution will take place if voters can cast their votes properly on the polling day,” she said, adding the BNP was demanding army deployment for a free and fair city corporation election.
Yesterday was the second consecutive day of her campaign for Tabith, the party-backed mayoral hopeful for Dhaka North City Corporation.
Zia visited several shops and shopping malls in Uttara, Norda and Badda.
BNP international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon alleged that the government was trying to heat up the political situation with the latest move.
Meanwhile, the election commission will look into the allegation of obstructing Zia during her electioneering yesterday if it is placed before the commission in written, EC secretary Sirajul Islam told reporters yesterday.
“We must look into if such allegations come to us. The allegations must come in written form. Because, we will not be able to work if the allegations cannot be substantiate. We will need proof and the measures will be taken accordingly,” he added.
