Candidates of Rajshahi mayoral elections campaigned all day, braving the heat and the rains yesterday. Meanwhile, candidates from the two major parties continued to blame each other for violating election rules.
Awami League candidate Khairuzzaman Liton campaigned among the businessmen of RDA Market and freedom fighters at Gouranga intersection while BNP candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul campaigned at ward number 16.
The BNP candidate alleged that some members of the police are threatening BNP activists with harassment if they continue to work for BNP.
At a press conference held at the party's Malopara office, he demanded withdrawal of two officers-in-charge of Boalia and Kashiadanga police stations, blaming them of arresting BNP activists and fabricating criminal cases against them.
"Have any of you heard of any incident of blasting cocktails in the city in the last few days?" Bulbul asked during the press conference. "But the police arrested at least three BNP activists for blasting crude bombs.
He said Kashiadanga police arrested two BNP activists -- Nurul Islam and Aminul Islam -- for blasting bombs targeting the police at Char Khuta area on July 8, and Boalia police arrested BNP activist Shafqul Islam for blasting cocktail at New Market area on July 9.
He said most BNP men could not stay at home at night since the election campaign began.
Police, however, denied the allegations.
"Can't we arrest a person who throws bombs at police?" asked Rabiul Islam, OC of Kashiadanga police station.
He said the police did not know which political party the attackers belonged to before arresting them.
On the other hand, AL candidate Khairuzzaman Liton submitted five complaints against BNP.
He alleged that Bulbul's men circulated a propaganda among Hindu voters of Panchabati area that if elected, Liton would evict them from the locality.
In another complaint, Liton alleged, Bulbul had threatened Sultan Ahmed, a garments trader of RDA market, of dire consequences for working for Liton.
Liton also alleged that Bulbul offered gifts to slum dwellers of Court Station area and circulated rumour among them that Liton would evict them if he becomes the mayor.
He also complained that Bulbul's workers removed his posters at Hatim Khan area, replacing those with the BNP candidate's posters. Bulbul, however, refuted Liton's allegations, saying that Liton's previous tenure as a mayor validates that Hindu voters and slum dwellers are not safe from him.
He also claimed the Awami League candidate is associated with godfathers of heroin and yaba trade. They are providing his election expenditures, Bulbul added.
Liton spent at least Tk 4 crore to cover the entire city with posters, placards and festoons in the first two days of election campaign, he said.
Bulbul also said that Liton called the staff of Rajshahi City Corporation to his home and threatened of dire consequences if they do not vote for him.
Independent candidate Murad Morshed campaigned among lawyers at Rajshahi Court yesterday. Bangladesh Jatiya Party candidate Habibur Rahman and Islami Andolon candidate Shafiqur Rahman are also contesting the election.