Fundamental right to participate in elections without violence should be guaranteed, UN says

The United Nations in Bangladesh has expressed concern about the attack on Ashraful Alam (Hero Alam) during yesterday‍‍`s Dhaka-17 by-polls

“The fundamental human right of everyone to participate in elections without violence should be guaranteed and protected,” UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Gwyn Lewis, tweeted on Tuesday.

The United States has also encouraged the government of Bangladesh to investigate any report of violence thoroughly, transparently, and impartially, and to hold the perpetrators of violence to account.

Mohammad Ali Arafat, who won the Dhaka-17 by-polls, said what happened “just 20 minutes before the end of the election is uncalled for.”

“I strongly condemn it. The involved parties could not be Awami League’s well-wishers. It was done with the intention of maligning the election,” he said.

The culprits should be arrested and brought to justice, Arafat said.

Ashraful Alam, better known as “Hero Alam”, an independent candidate contesting the Dhaka-17 by-election, was physically assaulted while leaving a polling centre in Banani area on July 17.

Hero Alam was attacked by some miscreants in the afternoon while he was leaving the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre. He returned home after receiving treatment at a hospital.

Courtesy: UNB