Dhaka-17 independent candidate Ashraful Hossen Alom, popularly known as Hero Alom, was subjected to a physical assault in Dhaka's Banani area shortly before the end of voting on Monday.
He later alleged that ruling party men had attacked him at Banani Bidyaniketan School and College polling centre in the afternoon with the intention of murder.
Alom later received treatment in the emergency department of Better Life Hospital in Rampura.
Police took prompt action to detain four of the attackers, while the Election Commission said it will take action after a complaint is filed. The Awami League candidate and winner of the by-polls, Mohammad A Arafat, has condemned the attack on Hero Alom.
During a press conference held at the hospital, Alom claimed the attack was premeditated.
“It was pre-planned. I demand a fair trial. I am boycotting this election. I will send letters to the US Embassy in this regard,” he added.
He said that he will not hold another election under this government. “If the polling environment is like this, and the candidates are attacked, there is no need to participate in the upcoming national elections.”
CollectedAlom also alleged there was vote rigging inside the centre.
In the morning, he alleged that several of his polling agents were harassed at the Banani Model High School polling centre.
However, Presiding Officer Mahbubul Alam denied the allegations, saying some of the polling agents for the candidate did not have any photographs on their ID cards. Hence, the authorities sent them back to attach photos.
Four detained
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) Gulshan Division detained four people in connection with the attack on Alom. Two of them were identified as Sheikh Shahidullah Biplob and Sanowar Ghazi.
At the time of his arrest in the afternoon, Biplob told reporters that he was the former joint secretary of the Banani unit of the Jatiya Sramik League.
Police said that the attack on Alam took place completely outside the polling station and did not cause any problem in voting.
DMP Public Relations and Media Wing Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) KN Roy Niyati told the media that they are working to detain the others involved in the attack.
During his visit to the Banani Bidyaniketan School and College polling centre at 3:20pm, some unidentified people approached Hero Alom and prevented him from entering the centre.
Ashraful Hossen Alom, popularly known as Hero Alom at hospital after being subjected to a physical assault in Dhaka CollectedSubsequently, they proceeded to physically attack him, chasing and hitting him despite the presence of law enforcement personnel, who intervened to protect him.
He was finally able to get away in a car around 3:30pm and took treatment at a hospital.
Arafat condemns
Awami League candidate Mohammad A Arafat has demanded exemplary punishment for those who were involved in the attack on Alom.
During a briefing at his election office on Monday afternoon, after the by-polls ended, he urged the media to help law enforcement agencies identify the attackers through video footage.
He said that the incident happened just before the end of the polls.
Responding to a question, Arafat said: “If the attackers were from our party, they will get organizational punishment, and law enforcement agencies will do their job.”
EC to take action
While talking to the journalists, Returning Officer Monir Hossain Khan said: "Hero Alom has yet to file an official complaint. We will also conduct our own investigation and take action based on that."
After the attack, Commissioner Md Alamgir said action will be taken against those who were involved.
“The Hero Alom incident is an injustice, and steps are underway to take action against those involved,” the election commissioner said at a post-election briefing at the Nirbachan Bhaban.
He also said the by-election was held in a largely fair and peaceful manner. “I have not seen any incident of unrest, so far (other than the attack on Hero Alom). In Dhaka, 14%-15% voting was recorded… Just because something happened in a polling centre, that does not mean there was chaos everywhere.”
Earlier, Mohammad Elias, chief election agent of Hero Alam, said: “Hero Alam was physically assaulted in front of law enforcers. Now he is unconscious, and he is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
“Even if we win the election, we will reject it as the attack happened in front of law enforcement officers."
However, he also claimed that the Election Commission did not pay any heed to their allegation regarding the issue.
