NCP Convener Nahid Islam has warned that any attack on his party’s candidates will be met with retaliation, following allegations of an assault on Dhaka-8 constituency candidate Nasiruddin Patwari.Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday (27 January) at the party’s local office in Fakirapul under the Dhaka-8 constituency, Nahid Islam said, “If our candidates are attacked, retaliation will now follow.”He alleged that Nasiruddin Patwari was obstructed and attacked earlier in the day when he went to Habibullah Bahar College as an invited guest. “Bricks and stones were thrown at him,” Nahid Islam claimed, adding that BNP activists also attacked Dhaka-18 constituency candidate Ariful Islam Adib a day earlier.Issuing a warning, Nahid Islam said, “If an attack comes, there will be a counterattack. If eggs are thrown at one party’s candidates, eggs will also fall on candidates of the other party. We do not want such an environment. But if the Election Commission and police administration remain silent, we will do what we must.”
He further alleged that over the past few days, female activists of Jamaat-e-Islami—one of the 11-party alliance partners—were attacked in six to seven districts across the country.
Nahid Islam accused a particular party and alliance of taking advantage of the inaction of the Election Commission and police to violate the electoral code of conduct, thereby destroying the level playing field.
Referring indirectly to BNP, he said, “If you try to eliminate rivals from the field using terrorist tactics like the Awami League, then what is the difference between you and the Awami League? You are chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ on stage to secure Awami League votes. But remember, in post-uprising Bangladesh, the people will not tolerate any terrorist activities.”
Recalling BNP’s failures in the 2018 election and the 28 October movement, Nahid Islam said, “In 2018 you could not even enter the field, and on 28 October you could not stand your ground for three minutes. At that time, we showed sympathy. Now you cannot tolerate criticism. You are calling Nasiruddin Patwari rude, but on 12 February the people will decide through ballots who is rude and who is a gangster.”
At the press conference, Nasiruddin Patwari said he and his party wanted to conduct election campaigning in a peaceful and democratic environment. However, upon arriving at Habibullah Bahar College, they were attacked with bricks, stones, and eggs.
He alleged that his supporters were repeatedly punched, kicked, and beaten in the presence of police personnel. “Ice was thrown at our female members, leaving one woman with four stitches on her head,” he said.
Nasiruddin Patwari named Mirza Abbas’s nephew, Aditya, as the main planner of the attack. He also claimed that former Habibullah Bahar College Chhatra Dal convener Asaduzzaman Masud, former member Shahin Uddin Mallik, and former joint convener Sharif directly led the assault.
He further alleged that Mirza Abbas hired miscreants through his nephew Aditya to carry out the attack and demanded justice from the people of the country.
Criticising the role of the Election Commission (EC), Nasiruddin Patwari accused it of acting in favour of a particular party and failing to provide adequate security, leaving candidates vulnerable. He also alleged that the EC engaged in corruption by approving the candidacies of 50 loan defaulters and dual citizens even before voters could exercise their voting rights, calling it a disgrace for the nation.