Jamaat-e-Islami has accused BNP activists of attacking and assaulting its women workers during electioneering in Sujanagar under the Pabna-2 constituency, leaving at least five people injured, including two women.
The incident occurred around noon on Saturday in Raypur Majhpara of Manikhat Union and Syedpur area of Ahmadpur Union in Sujanagar upazila, where the injured were admitted to Sujanagar Upazila Health Complex.
Those injured include upazila Jamaat’s Olama Department president Rafiqul Islam, vice-president Hafez Aminul Islam Shimul, municipal Olama Department president Inamul Haque, and women activists Marzia Khatun and Firoza Begum, while local sources claimed the number of injured was higher though five were hospitalised.
Witnesses said Jamaat leaders and activists were campaigning at Rafiqul Islam’s residence when local BNP workers first obstructed women activists, with a verbal altercation escalating into a physical clash that saw women workers assaulted and others injured when they intervened.
Jamaat also alleged that women activists were obstructed during campaigning in Char Sujanagar under the Sujanagar municipality and that Islami Chhatra Shibir faced similar in Syedpur area of Ahmadpur Union.
In protest, Jamaat-e-Islami women activists staged a procession at noon, starting from Bhabanipur Paschimpara, marching through Sujanagar Bazar and ending at the same point.
Pabna-2 Assistant Returning Officer Mir Rasheduzzaman said they were aware of three incidents in Sujanagar and that operations were under way against those involved, adding that legal action would be taken upon receipt of written complaints.
BNP candidate Selim Reza Habib said he was not sure who was involved in the incidents and had asked the upazila nirbahi officer to take necessary action against those responsible.
