BNP-backed Dhaka North mayor runner Tabith Awal seeks security

BNP-endorsed Dhaka North mayor runner, Tabith Awal, has sought Election Commission protection protection from Apr 26-29, citing an attack on his rival Mahi B Chowdhury on Saturday.

“I am feeling unsafe because of the current violent situation. I am feeling insecure without armed protection,” the son of BNP chief’s advisor Abdul Awal Mintoo said in the Apr 26 letter sent to Returning Officer Md Shah Alam. 

 

Copies of it have been sent to the home ministry and police.

The letter was sent a day after the attack on another mayor runner, Bikalpadhara Joint Secretary General Mahi B Chowdhury.

 

However, Mahi blamed the attack on Tabith’s camp, saying he was under threat from the BNP for contesting in the polls. 

  

Tabith, a former close aide of Mahi, spent the last day before the Apr 28 polls in meetings with his supporters. He is expected to cast ballot at the centre set up in Gulshan’s Manarat International School and then visit a number of centres, his camp’s media wing said. 

His Awami League-backed rival, Annisul Huq, is expected to vote at the Banani Bidya Niketan School and College. 

 

The businessman spent the last day at home, after 20 days of hard campaigning. 

Sayeed Khokon, the AL-endorsed contender for Dhaka South, would vote at the Najira Bazar Islamia Government Primary School voting centre. 

 

He stayed indoors on Monday, spending time with party supporters at his Najira Bazar home. 

However, it is unclear whether his rival, BNP-backed Mirza Abbas, would cast his vote. He has abstained from campaigns to evade arrest. 

BNP leader ASM Hannan Shah had said Abbas would vote if the High Court granted him bail.

 

However, his bail plea was not heard on Monday.