Five people were injured in an attack at Faridpur-3 independent candidate AK Azad’s election campaign office, allegedly carried out by followers of the ruling party Awami League-backed candidate on Tuesday.
The attack was carried out in ward no 14 of the municipal area in Mahmoodpur.
The injured include Joint Convener Abdul Rahman Jhanak of the election management committee of AK Azad. One of them is in critical condition and has been admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
Eyewitnesses Ashraf Hossain and Paresh Chandra, from AK Azad’s committee, reported that after their day's campaigning, they were discussing various issues in the office. During this time, a group of 150 to 200 men, led by Councillor Mobarak Khalifa and Atiar Sheikh, attacked their office while chanting slogans.
During this time, they vandalized various office equipment, they said.
Asked to respond to these allegations, councillor Mobarak Khalifa said: "While our vehicle was passing in front of the election office, followers of the independent candidate were throwing bricks and tiles at our vehicle, chanting slogans. Later, perhaps some bricks were thrown from behind as well. However, their allegations are not correct."
Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam informed journalists that the police were immediately sent to the scene after receiving the news.
He said an investigation will be carried out in light of the allegations.
The two candidates have been battling to disqualify each other. Azad, who was going to covet the Awami League nomination, had earlier bought the form for the party. However, when the party selected Shamim, he decided to run as an independent candidate. He aimed to attract a significant portion of the Awami League votes, believing his year-long effort towards representing the constituency in parliament would give him a privilege.
