'AL activists bar Rob, Manna from conducting campaign'

Jatiya Oikya Front senior leaders ASM Abdur Rob and Mahmudur Rahman Manna were allegedly obstructed from carrying out electioneering in the capital's Uttarkhan area on Thursday.

The duo along with Oikya Front's candidate for Dhaka-18 Shahoiduddin Mahmud Swapn offered fateha at Shah Kabir's shrine at Uttarkhan to conduct election campaign in the area in the afternoon.

However, several hundred local leaders and activists of Awami League gathered on the shrine premises and started shouting slogans in favour of 'boat'.

At one stage, Rob and Manna along with their supporters left the shrine without conducting the campaign.

Talking to reporters, Manna, the convener of Nagorik Oikya, said the ruling party men are blocking Oikya Front candidates across the country from carrying out election campaign.

He said their alliance will remain in the polls till the last moment despite the adverse situation.

The Oikya Front leader called upon their leaders and activists to get ready to guard polling stations on 30 December braving all barriers.

Abur Rob, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob), urged police to work neutrally and help ensure a level-playing field.

Swapan, a JSD leader, was nominated by the Oikya Front to contest the election with the 'Sheaf of Paddy' from Dhaka-18 seat.