Dhaka North city corporation ward no. 1 candidate Kafil Uddin, in a written complaint to the returning officer, said a number of police officers and constables were obstructing his election campaign. The police had threatened him several times between 21 and 23 April, hampering his campaigning, he alleged.
Many other candidates have complaints similar to those of Kafil Uddin. They say that the police are harassing the BNP-backed councillor candidates.
Ruling party persons were allegedly pressuring them to stay away from the election. Some have been told that they will be driven out of their homes unless they desist from campaigning.
Dhaka metropolitan police commissioner Mohammed Asaduzzaman Miah told Prothom Alo that the duty of the police is to maintain law and order. The police are ensuring that there is no breakdown in law and order during the election.
Several police officers, on condition of anonymity, have referred to the press conference on Saturday, where the police commissioner had said that persons who are not voters or residents of Dhaka, have been prohibited from entering the city. Those within the city will also have to leave. People from outside will not be allowed to enter the city.
An officer said, after than order, the police have been carrying out operations in the name of caching outsiders. But in reality the operation is aimed at nabbing BNP-backed councillor candidates and their supporters, according to allegations.
While the operation is being carried out in various areas, hardly any arrests are being made. In normal times, about 250 people are arrested on average daily. On Sunday the Dhaka metropolitan police public relations cell said only three persons had been arrested.
Speaking to the people in the city’s ward no. 41, Wari, Larmini Street and Rankin Street, it was learnt that since Saturday night the police had been raiding the homes of BNP-backed councillors and their workers. Many had fled from their homes in fear of the police.
Independent candidate Faruk Hossain told Prothom Alo, the police had repeatedly been raiding his home and the homes of his supporters since Saturday. Their families had been told to stay away from their homes for the next five days. On Sunday the police arrested another independent candidate of the same ward, Rashed Reza. Liaqat Ali, the BNP-backed councillor candidate of the ward, is in hiding. The police searched his house too.
The Awami League’s rebel candidate Abul Kasem Mollah of ward 8 in Dhaka North has complained that the Awami League-backed candidate’s people and the Shah Ali police have been obstructing his campaign. The police are going to the homes of his campaigners and threatening them. Kasem Mollah submitted a written complaint to the returning officer on 21 April, in which he named the sub-inspector (SI) of the Shah Ali police station, Saiful Islam.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of the Shah Ali police station Mohammed Selimuzzaman said, “I do not know why he (Kasem Mollah) mentioned the name of the Shah Ali police station in his complaint. No one threatened him.”
Ward 19 comprises Siddeswari, Ramna and Kakrail. The BNP-backed councillor candidate there, Ariful Islam, complained to Prothom Alo that the Ramna police station SI Jewel called up his party leaders and campaigners and told them to stop their campaigning. He said that they would be arrested if they did not stop.
SI Jewel Miah told Prothom Alo that he had not seen nor talked to Ariful Islam. He had not even been to the area. He said, Ariful has been accused in the case of setting fire to a Desh TV vehicle. He is an investigating officer in the case. Perhaps that is why Ariful complained against him.
Delwar Hossain, the BNP-backed councillor candidate of ward 11, comprising Shahjahanpur, North Shahjahanpur, Shahidbagh and the railway colony, said that the police obstructed his campaign workers in Shahidbagh on Sunday and snatched their pamphlets from them.
Shahjahanpur OC Mehdi Hasan said this was untrue. No one had been obstructed.
When asked about the coercion and threats, secretary of the election commission secretariat Sirajul Islam told Prothom Alo, the complaints are sent to the returning officer to be settled. They will instruct the police accordingly. He said, “I look into some of the complaints myself too. These are not specific and so action cannot be taken. But if the police search for someone against whom there is a warrant, then there is nothing for us to do.”
Former inspector general of police ASM Shahjahan told Prothom Alo, the police should be absolutely neutral. The police is to work for the state, not for any individual. The police must ensure the interests of the state. If the police work in the interests of an individual or a party, this will destroy the people’s confidence. The people will view the police as their enemy.
-Prothom Alo
