Atiqul Islam, mayor candidate of Awami League in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) election, said that on Tuesday’s attack on his rival contender Tabith Awal of BNP might have been the result of a factional clash.
His remarks came hours after the attack on Tabith and his supporters during campaigning at Gabtoli, which BNP and witnesses said was carried out by Awami League’s Ward 9 councilor candidate Mujib Sorwar Masum and his followers.
During his campaign at Ward 42, Atiqul said: “I don’t know the details about the attack yet. They might have been fighting among themselves.”
Atiqul, who recently resigned as the DNCC mayor to seek re-election, made the allegation even though Masum himself admitted that the brawl between his and Tabith’s supporters took place after the BNP men were reportedly shouting slogans against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the Awami League president.
Addressing a campaign rally at Muslim High School later on Tuesday, Atiqul said Beraid would be made more beautiful than Hatirjheel and more attractive than Gulshan and Banani.
“No one will have to travel to Hatirjheel because Beraid will be a lot more scenic. We also have plans to construct beautiful roads in the area which will be more modern than Gulshan and Banani,” he said.
“A Tk4,200 crore development project for Beraid is awaiting approval from Ecnec (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council). All of us will work together to take back all the illegally occupied water bodies,” he added.
Atiqul also said: “ Working with city planners, a master plan has been prepared for the development of the area. Every road and drainage system, and street lights in the area, will be modern and setup in a planned manner.”
The elections to DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) are slated for February 1.
