Maruful Islam, Bangladesh Nationalist Party backed mayoral candidate and current mayor of Jessore municipality sought magistracy power for army personnel in the municipality elections to avert any untoward incident.
He made the demand while briefing journalists yesterday at Jessore Press Club. Local leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party Rafiqur Rahman Toton, Golam Mostofa, advocate Md Ishaque and Syaed Saberul Haque Sabu were present at the function.
Munir Ahmed Siddique, vice-president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party presided over the function.
They fear the ruling Awami League may exert physical pressure to influence the polling.
Meanwhile, the Awami League activists led by its mayoral candidate Zahurul Islam Rentu Chaklader had damaged the paddy sheaf posters in many areas of the district. They also pasted the poster of Awami League backed mayoral candidates on the poster of Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidates.
The ruling party men misbehaved with the men of Maruful snatched away the leaflets. Later, they set fire on it.
The arms cadres of several terrorists group have been gathered at the city’s students’ mess to attack the Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists and its supporters, Maruful said.
“If the army is not given magistracy power, it will not be able to play any effective role during the election,” he also said.
“There is no security for candidates. Every day our leaders and supporters are being arrested, besides being threatened by the ruling party men,” he added.