TBM Report
The electoral atmosphere in the Jhalokathi-1 (Rajapur-Kathalia) constituency turned volatile following allegations of obstruction and harassment during campaign activities.
On Monday, female activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, supporting candidate Dr. Foyzul Huq, held a press conference at the Rajapur Press Club, claiming they were barred from campaigning in the Pingri area by local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders.
Khadiza Begum, a member of the local Women’s Jamaat, alleged that while they were distributing leaflets for the ‘Scale’ (Daaripalia) symbol, they were intercepted and intimidated by a group led by district Jubo Dal Joint Convenor Zohirul Haque Shohel.
“They explicitly told us that no campaigning would be allowed in ‘Shohel Bhai’s area’,” she stated.
Dr. Foyzul Huq condemned the incident as a violation of democratic rights and a personal attack on female activists.
In response, the BNP-nominated candidate, Rafiqul Islam Jamal, dismissed the allegations as “fabricated and politically motivated.”
Jamal, who serves as the central religious affairs secretary of the BNP, claimed that the Jamaat candidate is inexperienced and attempting to gain sympathy through false narratives.
He further escalated the verbal feud by questioning the ideological background of his opponent.
As the February 12 election nears, this friction between the two prominent political forces has heightened security concerns in the region.
