Two activists of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal, the women鈥檚 wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on Thursday accused a Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami activist of assaulting them physically, reportedly for campaigning for BNP.
Activists Nilufa Yasmin and her sister Nurbanu Begum, both residents of Ronhat village under Paba upazila in Rajshahi, made the accusation against their neighbour and Jamaat activist Nurul Islam at a press conference at a local restaurant at noon.
BNP-nominated candidate for Rajshahi-3 (Paba鈥揗ohonpur) constituency Shafiqul Haque Milon, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal central committee joint-convener Mahmuda Habiba, and Rajshahi city BNP vice-president Abul Kalam Azad Sweet were also present at the press conference.
Paba upazila BNP member secretary Professor Abdul Razzak read out the written statement on behalf of the victims.
Professor Abdul Razzak said that the incident took place at Ashrafer Mor area on Tuesday night when the two sisters were returning from a campaign event.
鈥楴urul Islam called the sisters and asked them to campaign for the Jamaat-nominated candidate. When they refused, he verbally abused and physically assaulted them 鈥� hitting one with a sandal and kicking the other in the abdomen,鈥� the statement alleged.
Victim Nilufa Yasmin said that Nurul took off his sandal and hit her several times, then struck her sister on the neck before kicking her in the abdomen.
She said that her sister Nurbanu Begum filed a general diary with Katakhali police station in the same night, but the police were yet to arrest the accused.
鈥榃e want his immediate arrest and exemplary punishment,鈥� she added.
When contacted, Nurul Islam said that there was nothing but an altercation between them.
鈥楴ilufa used to support the Awami League previously. Now she鈥檚 campaigning for the BNP. We argued about that, and I only pushed them once 鈥� nothing more,鈥� he claimed.
Contacted, Katakhali Police Station officer-in-charge Abdul Matin said that they had forwarded the general diary filed by Nurbanu Begum to the court.
鈥榃e will proceed with the investigation once the court gives permission,鈥� he added.
