The BNP backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation Ishraque Hossain and his supporters came under attack in Gopibagh area while campaigning on Sunday. Local passers-by said that a group of miscreants attacked Ishraque and his supporters while campaigning, leaving many of the activists and some journalists, seriously injured.
According to the activists, Ishraque had started his campaigning from Gopibagh Central Women’s College when the sudden attack took place turning the place into violent clashes. Many people nearby ran for life as the violence spread. The counter attacks between the two groups took about 30 minutes before it died down. Meanwhile, witnesses said that several vehicles were vandalized during the violence. Amid the violence that led to throwing brick chips at each other, police arrived on the spot to take control of the situation. Many of the unruly activists and the miscreants fled the area soon after.
BNP leaders claimed that Ishraque was returning to his Gopibag residence after conducting his campaign near Ittefaq crossing. On his way to his home, some unruly supporters of two AL backed councilors attacked on Ishraque’s supporters near the Central Women's College.
Witnesses said supporters of AL backed councilor candidate Rokon Uddin Ahmed and women councilor candidate for the reserved seat Lovely Chowdhury took position on the road when Ishraque's procession was about to arrive. Tensions was created as the two sides chanted slogans over microphones. At one stage, they hurled brickbats and chairs at each other.