Ashraful Hossen Alom, who is more popular on the internet as Hero Alom, has said he will not participate in any more elections under the Awami League government.
His pledge came on Thursday following an attack on him during the by-election to Dhaka-17 on Monday, which he contested as an independent candidate and lost.
“I have been assaulted thrice in elections as an independent candidate during the tenure of this government. First in 2018, and then I won the by-election in Bogra but did not get the results. I came to Dhaka again to take part in the by-election. I have tried so that polls were held in a fair manner… but I was assaulted again. I will not join any election again under the Awami League government,” he told reporters on Thursday afternoon after meeting the chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of police to help them identify those involved in the latest attack.
“I was an independent candidate in the Dhaka-17 by-polls. I was attacked towards the end of voting there. I was called to identify those involved in the attack. I am thankful to the DB; they arrested the attackers quickly, which I had not expected. I thought the attackers were from the powerful party and might not be nabbed.”
He also demanded exemplary punishment for those who carried out the attack.
Hero Alom expressed his gratitude to the DB for arresting the attackers but raised questions about the role of the BGB during the incident.
He also claimed that the on-duty policemen did not come forward to rescue him even after hearing about the attack.
When asked about their political identity, Alom said: "I saw boat insignias on the attackers. Some of them were Awami League people, some were hired people. Some were wearing Awami League badges. I have no idea how many of the attackers were actually Awami League members.”
In response to an allegation that the attack was staged, Alom said: “During interrogation in custody, if they say they are my supporters, then I will take the responsibility.”
Hero Alom was subjected to physical assault in Dhaka's Banani area shortly before the end of voting on Monday.
He later alleged that ruling party men attacked him at Banani Bidyaniketan School and College polling centre in the afternoon “with the intention of murder.”
