Election Investigation and Judicial Committee has been asked to take action following a preliminary probe on the attack of National Citizen Party (NCP) chief coordinator and Dhaka-8 candidate Nasiruddin Patwary with eggs at a college event last week.
Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury issued a letter in this regard yesterday.
In a letter, the returning officer instructed the committee to investigate the matter and take necessary steps. The letter included statements from the officer-in-charge (OC) of the concerned police station and the principal of Habibullah Bahar University College.
The letter said, “On January 27, during the ongoing election period, a Pitha Festival was organised at Habibullah Bahar College, and rival candidates were invited to the event.
“During this programme, news spread through print, electronic, and social media that Dhaka-8 candidate Nasiruddin Patwary was attacked with eggs, causing disorder. It appears that by holding this event during the pre-election period, the Code of Conduct for the Upcoming National Parliamentary Election 2025 was violated.”
The letter further mentioned, “Following a request for reports from the officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station and an explanation from the principal of Habibullah Bahar College, both have submitted their respective statements.”
According to the OC’s report cited in the letter, he learned around 10:00am on the day of the event through sources and a phone call with college principal Imrul Kayes that BNP leader Mirza Abbas, another Dhaka-8 electoral candidate, and Patwary would attend the festival. He said police were deployed at the venue and both parties were discouraged from participating.
Meanwhile, Principal Imrul Kayes stated that no outsiders were invited to the Pitha Utshab. He specifically clarified that no rival candidates were invited and that the event involved no election campaigning or promotional activities.
“Based on the report from the OC and the explanation provided by the college principal, the Election Investigation and Judicial Committee is requested to investigate and take necessary action,” the returning officer’s letter added.
Earlier, on January 23, Patwary was similarly targeted when eggs and muddy water were thrown at him during a campaign programme in the Siddheshwari area.
