Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate for the Natore-3 (Singra) constituency Anwar Hossain sought police protection after one of his campaign team members had been hacked to death on Wednesday night.

A written application in this regard was submitted on Thursday evening to the district returning officer and Natore deputy commissioner Asma Shahin by former Singra upazila BNP vice-president Abdur Rob on behalf of the candidate.

In the application, Anwar Hossain stated that he had to travel to different parts of Singra for electioneering and was concerned for his safety after one of his activists was ‘brutally killed’ by miscreants.

Anwar Hossain said that assailants hacked his campaign worker Rezaul Karim, a leader of union Zia Parishad unit, at around 11:00pm on Wednesday at Kadamtala Kumarpara village under Kalam union in Singra.

‘None of the attackers has been arrested yet. I am concerned about my own safety as I have to visit villages regularly to seek votes,’ he said, adding that this prompted him to formally request for personal security.

Deputy commissioner and returning officer Asma Shahin said that the application was received and forwarded to Natore superintendent of police for necessary action in accordance with the law.

Additional superintendent of police (administration) Ifte Khayer Alam said that the security request was under review.

He added that overall security in Singra was already strengthened and surveillance was increased regarding the candidate’s movements.

‘Plainclothes police are monitoring the places where the BNP candidate is holding meetings and gatherings,’ he said adding that it had not been possible to assign Anwar Hossain a personal police escort.