BNP candidate for Chandpur-4 MA Hannan yesterday quit electioneering and left his electoral area in protest against a case filed against his supporters and subsequent harassment by police.

Police filed a case accusing 250 named BNP men and around 500 unnamed people in connection with a clash between law enforcers and the party activists on Monday at Faridganj upazila. At least 19 BNP men were arrested the same night, reports our correspondent in Chandpur.

"Not the Awami League candidate, the police are my opponent in the election. Fed up with harassment by police, I have come to Dhaka to file a complaint with the CEC [chief election commissioner!," he told The Daily Star last night.

Before leaving his constituency, Hannan, in a press conference held at Chandpur town, said, "It is not possible to contest the election amid such a situation where police are harassing my men continuously. That is why 1 have taken the decision to leave my area.”

His decision came a day after the clash between BNP men and law enforcers at Faridganj upazila that left at least 20 people, including four policemen, injured.

That evening, Hannan and his supporters brought out an election procession. When they were crossing Faridganj Police Station, some miscreants threw brickbats at them. In response, the police charged baton and triggered the clash, according to our correspondent.

Harunur Rashid, officer-in-charge of Faridganj police, denied the allegation of harassing the BNP men. He said the BNP candidate's followers threw brickbats at law enforcers without any reason.

Apart from Chandpur, police arrested at least 20 BNP-Jamaat men in four districts in the last two days allegedly for planning sabotage.

Amid such arrests and cases, BNP yesterday submitted an application to the CEC requesting the commission to take immediate steps against harassment and attacks by law enforcers and AL men.

In the application singed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP cited a list of attacks and harassment incidents by police and AL men at different districts in the last couple of days.

In Jashore, police arrested a BNP activist and filed a case against 34 others and 40-50 unnamed people on charge of planning sabotage at Monirampur upazila on Monday night.

However, family members of the arrestee, Faruk Hossain, claimed police detained him from his house on Sunday night.

In another drive, police arrested two lamaat leaders on sabotage charges at Chougachha upazila yesterday.

In Chattogram, police arrested 14 people, including younger brother of BNP candidate of Chattogram-4, Ishaque Chowdhury at Jalilnagar on Monday night on charges of an attempt to commit subversive activities.

Moreover, Chattogram police arrested BNP activist Yakub Chowdhury Nazim, 45, on charge of planning subversive activities in Kotwali area yesterday.

In Jhalakathi, four BNP men were arrested in separate areas of Rajapur upazila yesterday allegedly for planning sabotage.