UN, US express concern

The UN in Bangladesh has expressed concern over the attack on independent MP candidate Ashraful Alam, popularly known as Hero Alam, during the Dhaka-17 by-election.
UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis in a tweet on Tuesday said: "The UN in Bangladesh is concerned over the attack on independent MP candidate Ashraful Alam during the Dhaka-17 by-poll. The fundamental human right of everyone to participate in elections without violence should be guaranteed and protected."
Awami League candidate Mohammad A Arafat has won the Dhaka-17 by-poll held on Monday.
However, in a bizarre incident, Hero Alam was beaten allegedly by Awami League activists on the day.
UNB report adds: The United States has encouraged the government of Bangladesh to investigate any report of violence thoroughly, transparently, and impartially, and to hold the perpetrators of violence to account.
"I would say that this type of political violence has no place in democratic elections," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told in a regular briefing in Washington on July 17 when the assault on Hero Alam was raised.
Miller also said they would expect the government of Bangladesh to hold free and fair elections. "And we continue to monitor it closely," he said.
Mohammad Ali Arafat, who won the Dhaka-17 by-polls, said what happened "just 20 minutes before the end of the election is uncalled for."
"I strongly condemn it. The involved parties could not be Awami League's well-wishers. It was done with the intention of maligning the election," he said.
The culprits should be arrested and brought to justice, Arafat said.
Ashraful Alam, better known as "Hero Alam", an independent candidate contesting the Dhaka-17 by-election, was physically assaulted while leaving a polling centre in Banani area on July 17.
Hero Alam was attacked by some miscreants in the afternoon while he was leaving the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre. He returned home after receiving treatment at a hospital.

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