Habiganj police have detained at least 50 persons from a motorcade carrying opposition Jatiya Oikya Front candidate Reza Kibria.
The candidate’s Personal Assistant Shahab Uddin Shuvo told the Dhaka Tribune police raided the convoy at Kazirbazar in Nabiganj upazila on Wednesday night.
Reza, the son of late Awami League finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, was carrying out an election campaign there.
“They detained 50 of our activists for no reason. Before that, they tried to attack our homes but failed due to interventions from the local people,” Shuvo said.
However, Nabiganj police Officer-in-Charge Iqbal Ahmed said several persons had been detained on charges of violating election code of conduct and they were being investigated.
Meanwhile in a statement issued in the evening, Oikya Front medial cell chief Jahangir Alam Prodhan said police had broken into Reza Kibria’s home and vandalized furniture.
“On the other hand police arrested around 50 people from his campaign in Nabiganj Kazirbazar.
“This has resulted in an atmosphere of fear in the locality. Such acts by the police only three days before election are despicable and a barrier to a fair election,” the statement said.
“Jatiya Oikya Front condemns the act and demands immediate unconditional release of its activists. Otherwise the overzealous police officials will face consequences,” it said.
