BNP-backed Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral candidate Tabith Awal was allegedly barred from entering a mosque for Jumma prayer yesterday.
Police did not allow him on the excuse that the state minister for home affairs was scheduled to say his prays there.
Joyonto Kumar Kundu, election campaign coordinator for Tabith, said: “When Tabith went to offer his prayer at Rahim Metal mosque at Tejgaon, police members present there asked him to go to another mosque as the state minister would pray there.”
Then Tabith offered his Jumma prayer at a Mosque located in Nakhalpara. Tabith took an hour for lunch with his campaign fellows at 2pm.
Tabith, while campaigning in the morning, doubted if voters could safely go to polling stations.
The more the harassment and threats BNP men are facing from the ruling party voters are responding more positively, he said.
Referring to the attacks on Khaleda he said this is obviously a threat to democracy.
“There is no congenial atmosphere prevailing for a free and fair election but we are going to take part in this election to uphold democracy and peoples’ interest.”
The government is interfering in the election affair.
If voters can not feel safe they will not go to polling centres and the election will be a farce. “Safety of the voters must be ensured.”
He left his home around 10am to begin his campaign. About 30 minutes later, he reached the Public Health Gate in Mohakhali right at 10:30am.
Wearing white with a little mixture of blue Panjabi Tabith marched along with his supporters.
As Tabith reached there his supporters began to shout slogans.
He visited Sat Tala Bosti, Dokkhon Para and Rasulbag. While campaigning, Tabith exchanged greetings and sought votes from locals.
He campaigned in Sat Tala Bosti Bazar where he talked to businessmen. He then talked to journalists at Sat Tala Bosti Math.
After visiting several streets Tabith went to Rahim Metal Jame Masjid located near Tejgaon Nabisco Building for Jumma prayer but police barred him from entering the mosque.
yesterday in the afternoon, he started to campaign from Mohammadpur’s Bosila Uttar Para to Japan-Garden City via Bashbari and Mohmmadia Housing.
Then he attended a street rally near the Mohammadpur Town Hall.
Tabith’s father Abdul Awal Mintoo, adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, filed his nomination paper for the Dhaka North mayoral race.
But his candidacy was canceled by the Election Commission on April 1, the first day of scrutiny.
His appeal against that decision was rejected by the High Court. Later, the Supreme Court also upheld the HC decision.
The Dhaka North and South City Corporations elections are slated to be held on April 28.