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11th National Election

BNP aspirants on the run amid fear of arrest in Khulna

DlPANKAR ROY, Khulna
Most BNP leaders of Khulna hopeful of contesting the national election in six constituencies in the district are not found in their localities, fearing arrests and harassment.
Most ward-level leaders and activists of the party have also gone into hiding, as police are filing cases and arresting many.
In the last couple of weeks, police have arrested at least 159 BNP leaders and activists till yesterday, and filed at least three new cases, said sources in city BNP.
Nazrul Islam Monju, organising secretary of BNP and the party's Khulna city unit president, alleged that police cordoned off the BNP office in the city's KD Ghosh Road on Thursday and Friday. "I am the only one who is allowed. They are not letting others in," he said.
Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Khulna sadar Police Station, told the Daily Star that police didn't cordon off the BNP office on Thursday and Friday. "It's a fictitious claim of BNP leaders and activists, he said.
However, on a visit to the office yesterday,
the presence of political activists were found to be scarce while a large number of policemen were seen around it.
In September, police filed 15 "ghost cases” against over 300 activists of the party.
Khulna District BNP General Secretary Amir Ezaz Khan, the lone aspirant candidate for Khulna-1 (Batiaghata-Dacope) constituency, said he was not able to go to his native village of Amirpur since September.
"I am not staying at my residence at night to avoid arrest. On the other hand, ruling party leaders are parading audaciously," he said.
"Is this a level playing field for fair election?" asked Ezaz.
Three BNP hopefuls for Khulna-3 (Khalishpur-Daulatpur-Khanjahan Ali) are out of the locality as well, fearing arrest.
On November 3, a sabotage case was filed against Principal Md Tarikul Islam, joint secretary of BNP's Khulna city unit and an potential candidate of Khulna-3.
He said even after securing bail from the High Court, police were arresting leaders of his party.
"After showing bail order, police told me
you got bail in one case, but there are other cases against you," said Tarikul.
"I cannot recollect details of 37 cases filed against me off the top of my head all the time," said Tarikul.
Another aspiring candidate Rokibul Islam Bokul, former vice-president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's (JCD) central committee, said he could not return to his locality, as even his supporters could not assure him of protection from police harassment.
He alleged that his campaign materials including posters and billboards were torn and vandalised by ruling party men.
"There is no atmosphere for me to return to my locality," he added.
Former JCD President Azizul Bari Helal, lone BNP aspirant candidate for Khulna-4 (Rupsha-Terokhada-Digholia) is also on the run.
Even after getting bail in 147 cases, he is in hiding, while his supporters and activists are also absent in their locality.
"How I can join election campaign in this situation?" a dejected Helal questioned The Daily Star.
Dr Mamun Rahman, who lives in London, is an aspirant candidate for Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Phultala). Two sabotage cases have been filed against him over incidents that took place when he was out of the country.
Shafiqul Alom Mona, president of Khulna district unit BNP, is seeking nomination for Khulna-6 (Paikgacha-Koyra) but is now staying in Dhaka. He has six cases filed against him.
"Police is raiding everyday and arresting BNP leaders and supporters in Paikgacha and Koyra areas. Who will stand up for them while I am on the run?" Shafiqul asked.
In past three elections, BNP gave away Khulna-6 (Paikgacha-Koyra) seat to its ally Jamaat-e-Islami.
This time, local Jamaat leader Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is aiming to contest from the constituency, but Detective Branch of Police arrested him in a sabotage case on October 27. He is now in Khulna jail.
Another Jamaat leader vying for Khulna-5, Mia Golam Porwer, central Naayab-e-Amir of the party, is also in hiding to avoid arrest.
He contested in the seat from 20-party alliance in 2001 and defeated Awami League's Narayan Chandra Chanda, who is now Fisheries and Livestock Minister.
Nazrul Islam Monju is the only BNP leader to be seen in public. On Friday and Saturday, he was seen roaming around the city on a rickshaw, alone.
He alleged that filing cases against BNP men and arresting them is a plan of the ruling party.
"This is a bad sign," he said.
Contacted, Sonali Sen, additional deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police, said police did not arrest anyone without a case filed against them.
"We do not arrest and file cases against anyone without any allegation," she added.