Some Awami League leaders feared the recent attacks on the BNP chief’s motorcade would impact negatively on the voters’ likelihood to vote for the AL favourites in city polls.
They suggested that such attacks should be stopped immediately as it would give the BNP-backed candidates electoral mileage.
In their views, media reports on the attacks stirred public sympathy for the BNP.
Talking to The Daily Star, AL presidium member Kazi Zafarullah said Khaleda Zia gained public sympathy over the attacks and the voters will have a negative impression of the government.
He, however, claimed that no AL activist was involved in the attacks.
Party insiders said the AL had a plan to embarrass Khaleda over the violence and killing during the recent agitation by the BNP-led alliance.
It thought of distributing leaflets and pictures at Khaleda’s rally venues, depicting the violent agitation by the 20-party combine. Forming human chains and showing black flags to the BNP chief were also planned.
But some leaders and activists of the ruling party and its front organisations became desperate for staging protests and carried out attacks on her motorcade this week, making the AL high-ups worried, according to sources in AL.
“We had a plan to show black flags to Khaleda Zia during her campaign. But now the party men are using sticks. I don’t know who will stop them,” an AL central committee member told this newspaper wishing anonymity.
Sayeed Khokon, the AL-backed mayor hopeful in Dhaka South City Corporation, yesterday said such attacks on the BNP chairperson’s motorcade would cause panic among the voters.
“We all want a peaceful election,” he said while campaigning in Old Dhaka.
On the attacks on Khaleda’s motorcade, Annisul Huq, the AL-blessed mayor aspirant in Dhaka North City Corporation, said he doesn’t support such acts.
“It’s a condemnable act and whoever had carried out the attacks should be identified,” he added.
Source: The Daily Star
