Modi, who is seeking a rare third consecutive term, referred to Muslims as "infiltrators" during a campaign speech on Sunday, drawing widespread criticism from opposition groups
Dhaka North City mayor aspirant Mahi ‘suspects’ BNP-backed rival Tabith's camp for attack
Bikalpadhara Bangladesh leader Mahi B Chowdhury suspects the attack on him just two days before the election is the handiwork of his rival BNP-backed Dhaka North City mayor aspirant Tabith Awal.
Published : 26 April 2015, 05:35 PM
Updated : 26 April 2015, 05:35 PM
Mahi was heard telling a police officer that he believed personal grudge led to the attack in the wee hours of Sunday at Tejgaon.
bdnews24.com has the audio clip of the conversation.
"Who is the beneficiary of the incident? It may seem Annisul Huq is guilty, because he is the beneficiary,” Mahi told the police officer.
"But the nature of the attack suggests it has been prompted by personal grudge, anger. That leads to the possibility of another side being involved. That means chances of Tabith camp carrying out the attack are greater."
He also said he suspected that the assailants of a 2004 incident had link to the latest attack.
When the BNP was in power, Mahi’s father Bikalpadhara chief AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury was attacked in March 2004 on his way to Muktangan from his Baridhara house.
Asked if the BNP had a hand in Sunday’s attack, Mahi said the party started mounting pressure on him from Saturday morning to quit the election.
"Senior BNP leaders clearly said 'we are going to lose because of you. Mahi is wasting votes.' In fact, discussions were going on about me inside (the party)," he told the police officer.
Tabith Awal said he only heard about the incident but had no conversation with Mahi.
“I don’t want to comment on anything I only heard about,” he told bdnews24.com.
Detective Branch spokesperson Monirul Islam told bdnews24.com that Mahi blamed the attackers of 2004.
Quoting Mahi as telling the police, Islam said, “Anis Bhai would not do this. On the other hand, Tabith will get three benefits from the incident.”
“I am the future chief of nationalist politics, no one comes close,” the DB official quoted Mahi as saying.
“If I’m not there, someone else would go come forward, the blame would go on the government and elections would be stalled.
“It means more time for the BNP. Annisul Huq would fall behind and Tabith would win,” Mahi said during the conversation with police, according to DB’s Islam.
Mahi’s private secretary Jahangir Alam filed a case against eight to 10 unidentified people after the attack.
He is contesting with the ‘eagle’ symbol.
His father Badruddoza Chowdhury was Bangladesh’s president during a term of the BNP, of which he was the founding secretary general.
The BNP did not respond to Mahi’s call for supporting him in the polls. The party
decided to back former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo’s son Tabith. His symbol is ‘bus’.
Ruling Awami League is backing former FBCCI chief Annisul Huq in Dhaka North.
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