Afzalul Karim, chief election coordinator of Awami League's mayoral candidate in Barisal, has expressed regret over the attack on Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB)-backed mayor candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim in the Barisal City Corporation elections, denying the involvement of Awami League behind the incident.
He said this in a press conference at the Awami League candidate's main election office adjacent to Circuit House of the city as soon as the polling for the Barisal City Corporation election was over on Monday afternoon.
He said: “No one related to the election of Awami League or Abul Khair Abdullah alias Khokon Serniabat, the Awami League's mayoral candidate in Barisal, is involved in this incident.”
In this regard, Afzalul Karim, senior vice-president of Metropolitan Awami League, said: “I have visited some of the centres as chief election agent. I learned that thousands of followers of a special group are waiting at the border areas of the city including Gariyarpar, Barisal University, Charkaua and Kalijira Point. I have also informed the Election Commission.”
Islami Andolan Bangladesh-backed mayor candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, and several other party men have been injured in a clash allegedly carried out by Awami League activists.
Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim alleged that some 30-40 boat symbol supporters attacked them with sticks near Hatim Ali College after they left Sabera Khatun Girls' Secondary School polling centre on Monday.