If police remain silent, we will carry out our responsibility: Nahid Islam

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has warned that his party will take action if law enforcement agencies fail to ensure a fair electoral environment, following alleged attacks on NCP candidates.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s local office in Fakirapool under the Dhaka-8 constituency on Tuesday (27 January), Nahid said, “If eggs are thrown at one party’s candidate, eggs will be thrown at another’s as well. We want a peaceful environment, but if the Election Commission and police remain silent, we will carry out our responsibility.”

He alleged that Dhaka-8 candidate Nasiruddin Patwari was obstructed and attacked with bricks and stones while heading to Habibullah Bahar College earlier in the day. He also claimed that NCP’s Dhaka-18 candidate Ariful Islam Adib was attacked on Monday.

Nahid further alleged that female activists of Jamaat-e-Islami had been attacked in six to seven districts in recent days, accusing the Election Commission and police of inaction that was undermining a level playing field.

Indirectly criticising the BNP, he said, “If you want to remove opponents from the field using Awami League-style violence, then where is the difference? No terrorist activity will be tolerated in post-uprising Bangladesh.”

At the same press conference, Nasiruddin Patwari alleged that despite police presence, their activists were assaulted with bricks, punches and kicks, and that women members were targeted with chunks of ice. He claimed one female activist required four stitches to her head and named Mirza Abbas’s nephew Aditya and others as key organisers of the attack.

Patwary blamed the Election Commission of acting in favour of a specific party and failing to ensure candidates’ security, calling the situation “a disgrace for the country”.