UN expresses concern over attack on Hero Alam

The United Nations has expressed its concern over physical assault on independent candidate Ashraful Alam alias Hero Alam during the voting in Dhaka-17 by-polls on Monday.

In a post on her Twitter account on Tuesday, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis said, "The @UNinBangladesh is concerned over the attack on independent MP candidate Ashraful Alam during the Dhaka-17 by-poll.

"The fundamental human right of everyone to participate in elections without violence should be guaranteed and protected."

Regarding the incident, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller at a press conference said, "I would say that this type of political violence has no place in democratic elections. We encourage the Government of Bangladesh to investigate any reports of violence thoroughly, transparently, and impartially, and to hold the perpetrators of violence to account.

"And I would say, as we have said before, that we would expect the Government of Bangladesh to hold free and fair elections, and we continue to monitor it closely."

Following Monday's attack, Hero Alam received treatment at the Better Life Hospital in the capital's Rampura.

He told The Daily Samakal, "From the very beginning of voting, I was being hindered in various ways. When I went to Banani Vidyaniketan around 3pm, a group of unruly youths attacked me with Joy Bangla slogans.

"They beat me and tore my clothes. All the attackers belong to the pro-government Chhatra League-Jubo League."

/KN/MHK/