United News of Bangladesh

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (South Region) Hasnat Abdullah has said there can be no compromise over the issue concerning Nasiruddin Patwary, who is contesting from DHaka-8 constituency. In a post on his verified Facebook account, he issued the warning, although he did not provide any details. It is thought that he is indicating his fellow NCP leader Nasiruddin won his own election in the Dhaka-8 constituency against BNP stalwart Mirza Abbas.   Hasnat, who also contested the Cumilla-4 seat, was elected to parliament through the election held on Thursday. Hasnat Abdullah, contesting under NCP's Shapla Koli symbol as part of an alliance with Jamaat e Islami, received 160,081 votes. His closest rival, Jasim Uddin, contesting with the Truck symbol, received 49,845 votes, in unofficial tallies from the Election Commission.

Jamaat-backed alliance candidate and Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Nasiruddin Patwary on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the overall voting atmosphere in Dhaka-8 constituency, though he alleged that his supporters were attacked the previous night. Talking to reporters after visiting the Arambagh High School and College polling centre in the morning, Nasiruddin said the situation remained peaceful. “So far, the voting environment is good. No untoward incident has occurred since morning,” he said. Patwary, however, alleged that his supporters came under attack on Wednesday night. Expressing optimism about his electoral prospects, Nasiruddin said, “My victory in this constituency would mean Osman Hadi’s victory. People have told me they are casting their votes for Hadi through me.” Raising allegations against Jatiya Party candidates, he claimed, “The ‘Plough’ and the ‘Boat’ have become indistinguishable. If they gain advantage in this election, Indian dominance will rise again in Bangladesh.” Tensions were reported at several polling centres in the constituency since morning, particularly among BNP activists. A brief commotion broke out when Nasiruddin entered the Arambagh centre, triggering protests from BNP supporters. The situation was later brought under control with the intervention of the army. Major Araf, who is in charge of security in the Arambagh-Motijheel area of Dhaka-8, said no major untoward incident had occurred in the constituency since morning. “Whenever tension arises anywhere, army patrol teams are immediately deployed to bring the situation under control,” he said. In Dhaka-8, Nasiruddin Patwary is contesting against BNP heavyweight candidate Mirza Abbas. Meghna Alam of Gono Odhikar Parishad is also in the race.  

In a scathing attack, National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator and Jamaat-led 11-party alliance candidate for Dhaka-8 Nasiruddin Patwary on Saturday described BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman as a ‘paper tiger’ and Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal ‘terrorist organisations’. “Tarique Rahman’s pressure sometimes leads the government to open fire on the July movement activists, and sometimes on its own people. Tarique Rahman is actually a paper tiger. There is nothing to fear about him,” Nasiruddin said while addressing a rally titled ‘Rally for Bangladesh’ organised by July Oikya at the Central Shaheed Minar in the afternoon. Criticising both Tarique Rahman and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, he said, “Yunus Sir, out of fear of Tarique Rahman, went to London and made a deal with BNP. There is nothing to fear about him. Tarique Rahman. The real Royal Bengal Tiger is the Inqilab Moncho.” Alleging manipulation of the electoral process, Nasiruddin said the Election Commission was moving towards ‘selection in the name of election’. “To ensure Tarique Rahman’s victory, the government has made elaborate arrangements to bring him back to the country. Tarique Rahman and the BNP are being provided with so many facilities and support. This is not a democratic election; this is a selection in the name of an election,” he said. Nasiruddin went on to say, “Those who are loan defaulters and hold dual citizenship were not supposed to be eligible for elections. But by creating mobs in front of the Commission with terrorist organisations like Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal, extortionists and loan defaulters have been given the opportunity to contest.” Referring to slain Dhaka-8 aspirant and Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Osman Hadi, Nasiruddin quoted him as saying, “Hadi bhai had said that if he went to Parliament, he would deprive extortionists of sleep. Today Hadi bhai is no more, but thousands of Hadis have been born. We will not only keep the extortionists awake—we will make their lives unbearable. If they die, we will put up signboards on their graves saying ‘extortionist’.” Polling environment hampered by admin’s inaction: NCP Nasiruddin also claimed that the attack on Inqilab Moncho activists at Shahbagh and in front of the Chief Adviser’s official residence Jamuna on Friday—during protests demanding justice for Osman Hadi’s killing—was aimed at thwarting the national election scheduled for February 12. “An influential group within the interim government itself wants to derail the election,” he alleged, adding, “No matter what, the election must be held on February 12.”