Rajshahi City Polls: 3 hurt in blasts at BNP rally

Three crude bombs exploded at an election rally of BNP mayoral candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul in the city's Sagarpara area yesterday, leaving three people injured.

Among the injured are BNP chairperson's adviser Habibur Rahman and Banglavision's Rajshahi correspondent Aditya Chowdhury.

The BNP and Awami League traded blame over the incident. However, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, who was visiting the city,

said the law and order in the city was “very normal”.

The blasts occurred around 11:00am when BNP Organising Secretary Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu was addressing a rally of Rajshahi Chhatra Dal as part of Bulbul's polls campaign.

Police and witnesses said six masked men riding two motorcycles went to Sagarpara area; hurled the bombs at the BNP men and left the scene.

BNP leader Dulu took the injured to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

BNP chairperson's adviser Habibur Rahman suffered bruises in his arms and journalist Aditya in his arms and legs. Another injured Swapan Karmaker, a potter, was hit by splinters. 

M Amanullah, OC of Boalia Police Station, said police were examining footage of the blasts to identify the attackers. The footage obtained by this correspondent show the back of the attackers as they were fleeing the scene.

Briefing journalists on the RMCH premises, Dulu blamed “terrorist groups of the ruling party for orchestrating the blasts”.

“I was there to inaugurate Chhatra Dal's campaign for Bulbul. When the first bomb went off, it sounded like a tyre explosion. Two more blasts followed and I saw people being hit with splinters.”

He alleged that the AL wanted to keep the BNP out of the race and intimidate voters by creating panic.

Speaking at a press conference at the party's city office in Kumarpara in the afternoon, AL mayoral nominee AHM Khairuzzaman Liton blamed Dulu for the blasts.

He said he had information that Dulu had talks with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday night.

“Since he came to Rajshahi on Monday, we were suspecting that violence might occur. I firmly believe that Dulu was behind orchestrating the blasts as he is known for his links with terrorists,” said Liton.

EC SEES SITUATION NORMAL

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury briefed journalists around 2:00pm yesterday after holding a meeting with the divisional coordination committee of the Rajshahi city elections at the conference room of Rajshahi divisional commissioner. 

Referring to a recent bomb blast in Pakistan which killed around 180 people, including a candidate, he said no such incident took place in Rajshahi, Khulna or Gazipur.

“In this context, I must say that the law and order in Rajshahi is still very normal.”

He said he directed the law enforcers and government officials concerned to stay alert against any attempts to taint the election.

The election commissioner said the EC was trying to ensure transparency in the election processes. “No violence occurred in Khulna and Gazipur. It means that voters were free to go to the polling centres and return to their homes safely.”