Their houses and business establishments are being attacked and many have been threatened to leave the city, some senior AL leaders alleged while talking to this correspondent yesterday.

The attacks began Friday evening after AL arranged a Milad Mahfil at Kalmi Lodge mosque in Amanatganj in the city, they alleged.

A good gathering at the first out-door programme since the last general election angered ruling party men and they swooped on AL men in different areas of the city. Some were attacked in front of police, they alleged.

Talukder Md Yunus, Barisal AL office secretary, alleged that they informed police, but to no effect.

District AL publicity secretary Syed Anis alleged that BNP activists assaulted him, party leader Mashiur Rahman Mintu and Jubo League leader Syed Kamal on Friday night.

BNP activists beat city BCL leader Kawsar Ahmed at his business enterprise in Port Road area, he alleged.

Jubo League leader Golam Mawla was abducted and freed after torture and his motorcycle was snatched away.

BNP activists also ransacked and locked the shop of Sramik League leader Lovlu in front of Amanatganj police outpost.

Syed Anwar, ex-vice president of the local unit of AL, has been asked to close his shop and leave Barisal "as early as possible", they alleged.

BNP activists also swooped on the house district AL Agriculture Secretary and freedom fighter Mokhlesur Rahman at Charbaria. Not finding him, they asked his family to tell him to leave the city immediately.

Anis alleged that a number of such incidents took place in front of Amanatganj police outpost but police remained inactive.

When contacted, advocate Nazrul Islam Razon, Barisal district BNP secretary, refuted the allegations and claimed that those were due to intra-party conflict in AL.

Police said they did not get any such allegation from any AL men, and none sought any help from them.