BNP-backed mayoral candidate for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Tabith Awal allegedly came under attack during his campaign in the city's Gabtoli area on Tuesday.
Mr Tabith blamed Awami League-backed councillor candidate Mujib Sarwar Masum and his supporters for the attack.
He said Masum along with his 100-150 supporters attacked him and his campaigners with sticks and brick chips around 11:30am chanting 'Joy Bangla' slogan.
Tabith along with BNP publicity secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and 15 other supporters and journalists were injured in the attack at Teen Tola Masjid area of Ananda Nagar in Gabtoli under ward 7.
The DNCC mayoral candidate came under attack just nine days before the election slated for February 1.
At least five journalists of Jamuna and Baishakhi television channels including a cameraperson of Ekattor TV channel were also injured in the attack, said some campaigners of Mr Tabith.
The BNP mayoral candidate alleged goons attacked his peaceful procession in presence of policemen.
"We've already lodged complaint with the election commission, seeking legal actions against the attackers," Tabith said, adding: "Seeing a gradual rise in BNP's popularity, they have attacked us."
Terming the attack as an act of 'cowardice', Tabith said no one could be able to stop them from their election campaigning.
He went on: "We'll continue our campaign in a disciplined way."
Ruling out Tabith's allegation of ruling party's involvement in the attack, his key rival in the election, Awami League-backed candidate Atiqul Islam said the incident might be a result of campaigners' internal clash.
He made the comment while addressing an election meeting at Beraid High School premises under ward 42 on the day.
However, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir condemned and protested the attack on Tabith Awal and his supporters.
In a statement, he said, "As the election day nears, violence by Awami League-led goons is being intensified."
The attack on Tabith and other party leaders and journalists were pre-planned and cowardly, he added.
Mr Fakhrul claimed that the Awami League-backed goons were attacking BNP-backed candidates every day to win the election unilaterally.
"The Awami League government is not allowing any peaceful election campaign of the BNP candidates to fulfil their unholy goal."
The BNP leader also claimed that almost every day councillor candidates, even mayoral candidates, were being attacked by 'Awami-sponsored armed men'.
Witnesses, however, said police came to the spot after the incident and tried to bring the attackers under control.
However, AL and BNP mayoral candidates for DSCC Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Ishraq Hossain continued their election campaign in different areas of the city on the day.
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