An unaffiliated candidate running in the Rajshahi‑3 (Paba-Mohanpur) region, Habiba Begum, faced an assault outside a polling station during today’s voting. The incident occurred at approximately 3:00pm near the Nalkhola Government Primary School in Paba upazila. Habiba, running with the symbol of a football, was physically attacked with multiple slaps.
Habiba, a former female vice‑chair of Mohanpur Upazila Parishad and ex-women affairs secretary of Mohanpur upazila Krishak League, was captured on video being slapped by a man. She was knocked to the ground and hit again while trying to get up. Her companions intervened to rescue her, and another individual removed the attacker from the scene.
After the assault, Habiba was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where she identified the assailant as Rajab Ali, the former president of the ward 1 BNP unit in Harian union, Paba. Habiba explained that she went to the polling station to greet voters and solicit votes but was slapped during a verbal dispute.
Her election agent, Akbar Hossain, strongly criticized the attack, stating, “It is utterly unacceptable to physically assault a female candidate in this manner. We reported the incident to the presiding officer at the center, but he declined accountability, citing that the assault occurred outside the polling station. We have also informed the returning officer. We demand justice for this appalling incident.”
Habibur Rahman, the joint convener of Harian union BNP, acknowledged Rajab Ali as a party leader but claimed ignorance about the responsible party or the circumstances leading to the incident. Suman Kaderi, the officer‑in‑charge of Katakhali Police Station, mentioned, “There was reportedly a dispute between a candidate and others regarding soliciting votes from voters in front of the polling center. If a formal complaint is lodged at the police station, we will investigate and take appropriate measures.”