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At least 10 activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami have been injured in an attack on the motorcade of the party’s leader Shahinur Alam, who has been nominated to contest in the parliamentary polls from the Sirajganj-1 constituency.
Kazipur Police chief Shah Enayetur Rahman confirmed the incident occurred at 10:30pm on Monday after an Islamic gathering at a local madrassa in Kazipur, bdnews24.com reports.
The injured have been admitted to the Sirajganj General Hospital.
Shahinur alleged he was obstructed from giving a speech after his rival -- a BNP candidate -- had spoken at the same event.
On the way back from the event, he said, an attack was launched on them.
The victims had taken shelter at a place 2km from where the first attack had been launched, but the attackers reached there as well, he added.
“At least 10-15 leaders and activists have been injured and several vehicles were damaged,” said Shahinur.
He demanded that the attackers be arrested and threatened to file a case over the matter.
On Tuesday morning, Jamaat took out a protest procession.
Sirajganj district Jamaat Secretary Jahidul Islam Jahid threatened tougher movement if the perpetrators were not arrested within 24 hours.
BNP candidate from the same constituency Selim Reza said no BNP activists were involved in the attack.
He rather blamed Jamaat for arriving at the venue with a procession manned by outsiders and Awami League activists.
He claimed he prevented the situation from descending into chaos for the sake of the event going smoothly.