Killers, gunmen ask for votes

Assasins of Jyogojyoti Talukder have evaded the police dragnet but are campaigning for a BNP candidate in the Sylhet corporation polls.

Talukdar, a former leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League and an organiser of Ganajagaran Mancha in Sylhet was murdered earlier this year by suspected activists of two Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student affiliate of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Atleast two of those suspects,Ubaidul Haque Shahin and Faijul haque, who police are looking to nab, have been spotted campaigning for BNP candidate Ariful Haque Chowdhury who is contesting the Sylhet City Corporation polls.

Shahin and Haque were seen marching with Chowdhury during campaign at Pathantola area.

The Awami League was not to be left behind. Its candidate Badaruddin Ahmad Kamran also seems to be moving around with a gunman known for involvement in crimes.

Who will believe both these candidates who pledged ‘no terrorism’ during the forthcoming Jun 15 Sylhet City Corporation elections.

Ariful Haque had been demanding army deployment for polls saying his opponents were moving around with criminals and gunmen.

“Recently terrorists are moving around with guns,” he told bdnews24.com on Wednesday. “Army is necessary for elections.”

When asked about the two murder-accused Shibir activists in his rally, he said that many people take part in campaigns. “I did not notice this.”

Awami League-backed candidate Badaruddin Kamran was seen with Sylhet metropolitan unit Chhatra League former Joint Convenor Piyush Kanti Dey on May 31 in Sheikhghat area.

Dailies had run photos of Piyush running about with arms during clashes between factions of Chhatra League in Zindabazar area on Feb 22. This had led to a flurry of criticism at that time.

Many other gunmen active during clashes between Sylhet Chhatra League factions in MC College on May 19 were also seen campaigning.

BNP Standing Committee member Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain, who had come from Dhaka to campaign for Ariful Haque Chowdhury, alleged on Wednesday that his rival had hired terrorists.

However, Awami League-backed Kamran refuted such allegations.

“Mr Mosharraf has said something he did not know”, he said. “The people of Sylhet knows very well that Kamran does not walk with terrorists.”

Meanwhile, the voters were also worried with such brazen parade of muscle power.

Sachetan Nagarik Committee (SaNaC) Sylhet President Faruque Mahmud Chowdhury said this had created panic among voters.

But Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner SM Rokan Uddin reiterated that police “were trying to nab those absconding” when asked about lack of action when killers and gunmen were moving freely during campaign.

“Checkposts have been placed at key points. No terrorists will be allowed to enter the city.”

All key voting centres will be covered with up to 35 policemen and Ansar personnel, he said. Forty mobile police teams and up to 15 strike groups will be patrolling it.

Perhaps Sylhet is where gunmen, in uniform or without it, will happily co-exist.

Source: Bd news24