Ershad's motorcade attacked: 5 injured

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Kurigram, Mar 29 (UNB): Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad's motorcade bound for by-election campaign was attacked allegedly by a group of Awami League supporters in the district town today (Sunday), leaving five wounded, including MP from Gaibandha-1 constituency Col (retd) Qader, reports UNB.
Witnesses said some 10 vehicles were also damaged in the attack at about 11:30am at Kanthalbari bazar.
They said a group of people chanting slogans for Awami League attacked the motorcade of HM Ershad, an ally of the AL-led grand alliance, while coming here for by-election campaign.
At a press conference later at Kurigram circuit house, the JP chairman blamed the local Awami League candidate for the attack.
He said he also talked to Prime Minister's Press Secretary over phone and demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the attack.
Ershad, the former military ruler, threatened that Jatiya Party would withdraw from Kurigram-2 by-election if the administration failed to discharge its duty impartially.
Meanwhile, AL candidate for the Kurigram-2 constituency and district AL general secretary Zafar Ali said he was busy with public relations at Bhogdanga during the incident. And he also demanded punishment for the real wrongdoers.
Police Super Mahbubur Rahman said that after the incident security for the JP chief has been tightened. "And necessary steps would be taken further after written complaints."