BNP has alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami is working hand in glove with the government in Sylhet City Corporation election.
The party leaders said Jamaat activists, who earlier went underground, are coming out from their hiding places and taking part in campaign freely while the BNP supporters are subject to harassment and arrest.
Sylhet BNP General Secretary Ali Ahmed told Bangla Tribune, “Jamaat has fallen into the trap of the government as they have formed a secret alliance.”
Jamaat was completely inactive even before the election, but now we are seeing an opposite scenario, he said.
“With the help of the law enforcing agencies, now they are the most active political party in Sylhet.”
Ahmed alleged that police harass BNP activists during campaign and carry out raids on their houses at night, but no Jamaat activists are arrested or harassed.
“False cases were filed against BNP activists but there is no case against any Jamaat activist,” he said.
Sylhet City Jammat Amir and election committee convenor Fakhrul Islam said, “The BNP allegations are baseless. Jamaat is the worst affected party in Sylhet as they waged movement against the government.”
When asked why BNP activists are being arrested while their activists are safe, he said, “Our activists are not as unruly as the BNP ones. We abide by the election code of conduct while campaigning.”
A former leader of Shibir, student wing of Jamaat, seeking anonymity said, “I and some of the other activists are accused in a case and police used to carry out raids to arrest us even before the election, but now they don’t disturb us.”
Police now know where we are going or staying, but they don’t harass or arrest us, he said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Abdul Wahab said, “Police will take action against whoever commits election related crime.”
When asked police are taking side with Jamaat, he said, “Police are performing their duties. The BNP allegations are not true.”
We are providing security to candidates and activists of all parties, he said.
“We will conduct a combing operation from Jul 27 in Sylhet and we will arrest any outsider,” he added.
He requested Sylhet residents to carry their national identity card till the polls end.
The Sylhet City Corporation will be held on Jul 30.