So, like, there’s this whole drama going down in Barishal City Corporation election for the mayor position, where Islamic Andolon Bangladesh’s mayoral candidate’s senior deputy, Amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Foyzul Karim, faced a violent attack by the supporters of rival Awami League candidate just a few hours after the voting started, you know? This incident has sparked criticism both nationally and internationally, like, it’s all anyone can talk about.
The immediate former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has asked the media directly in a press conference, “Did he really pass away?” and that question has stirred up a lot of heated discussions everywhere, you know?
No action has been taken against the attackers by the government or law enforcement agencies, instead, they have been kept safe. Like, seriously, what’s up with that?
Before and after the attack in Barishal City Corporation election, there have been reports of widespread electoral fraud and intimidation, and the interference of central forces, all of which have been widely covered by the country’s electronic media, online media, and print media.
On June 12, 2023, the Daily Manabzamin reported, “In Barishal, Islamic Andolon’s mayoral candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Foyzul Karim faced multiple attacks one after another. At that time, Karim’s car was vandalized, and the workers with him were brutally attacked by boatmen with oars. Karim himself reported these allegations to the journalists. Today, he revealed that the attacks took place in the afternoon.”
He said, “I went to the Election Commission office to report the boatmen’s attack. Upon informing the returning officer, I went to Sabera Khatun School center and saw that the boatmen were attacking me. When I asked the presiding officer about it, they assaulted me. They hit me with oars, causing my lips to bleed.”
He continued, “I will stay on the field until the last drop of blood falls. The downfall of the Awami League government will be my farewell from the field.”
When news of the attack on Karim’s workers at the polling center at Kadur Chowdhury School in Ward 2 and the snatching of the polling agent’s card at Sher-e-Bangla Deva-Noysh High School in Ward 2 came to light, the then Commissioner of Barishal Metropolitan Police, Saiful Islam, said, “Those involved in the attack on Karim will be arrested and brought to justice.” Regarding the negligence of the police personnel present at the scene of the incident, he said, “If any police officer is found to be negligent, they will also be brought to justice.”
The analysis of this news clearly shows that Mufti Foyzul Karim and his workers were attacked by boatmen at the polling center, as reported to the returning officer. When he went to another center, the boatmen attacked him again. If the Election Commission and the returning officers had conducted a fair and impartial election, the Barishal City Corporation election would have been immediately postponed to create a conducive environment for a fair election.
After ensuring the arrest of the perpetrators and bringing them to justice, the former fascists have taken a step back from law enforcement and filed a case against Mufti Syed Muhammad Foyzul Karim within 30 days in the election tribunal. Instead, they have announced that the fight will continue unabated for the people’s right to vote and establish justice.
So, yeah, it’s pretty clear that Mufti Foyzul Karim has sacrificed his personal life for the sake of victory and encouraged the people of the country to step up in the field against the fascist Awami League.
After the victory, in order to seek justice, on April 17, he filed a case in the Barishal Election Tribunal. When Mufti Syed Muhammad Foyzul Karim and the people of the country were waiting for justice, the failure of the court to take up the case without any bias or discriminatory behavior was disappointing.
The Election Tribunal is definitely aware of the incident that took place on the day of the Barishal City Corporation election on June 12, 2023. We are optimistic that the High Court will ensure justice by declaring Mufti Syed Muhammad Foyzul Karim as the mayor of the Barishal City Corporation, fulfilling the expectations of the people.
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