Attack on NCP Candidate During Dhaka Rally

In a disturbing incident in Dhaka-18, the campaign trail of Ariful Islam Adib, the candidate of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) and the 11-party alliance, was disrupted by a violent attack. One individual, identified as Md. Manik, was apprehended by the student organisation Chhatra Janata while allegedly carrying a machete. The arrest took place shortly after the incident and the suspect was subsequently handed over to Uttara East Police Station.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Monday night. According to the DMP, Manik is a previously charge-sheeted individual from Turag Police Station, and he was detained on suspicion of perpetrating the attack during Ariful Islam’s campaign procession, locally known as the “Azadi Yatra”.

The attack occurred on Monday morning in the Dumoni Nurpara area under Khilgaon Police Station, while the NCP candidate was engaging with local constituents as part of his election campaign. Later, at a press conference held at the BNS Centre in Uttara, Ariful Islam alleged that the attack was orchestrated under the leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

According to Ariful, upon reaching the Nurpara Alim Madrasa field, his campaign team was met with a pre-planned assault led by Didar Molla, the local leader of BNP’s Ward No. 43. “Our campaign was meant to be a peaceful engagement with the voters,” Ariful told reporters. “Instead, we faced a coordinated attack that endangered the safety of our team and supporters. Such incidents threaten the integrity of the electoral process and create unnecessary tension in the constituency.”

Authorities have assured that appropriate legal and security measures are being taken to prevent further escalation. Chhatra Janata confirmed that they acted promptly to restrain the suspect and ensure public safety. The incident has raised concerns among political observers about the security of candidates during election campaigns and the potential impact on voter confidence.

The following table summarises the key details of the incident:

The incident has intensified scrutiny over the conduct of political campaigns in Dhaka, highlighting the need for enhanced security protocols and swift legal action against perpetrators to maintain a safe and fair electoral environment.