Dr Shahadat finally joins Manjur's campaign

Chittagong city BNP general secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain, who was denied party blessing for the mayoral race, joined the campaign of his party colleague and mayoral hopeful M Manjur Alam yesterday.   
Dr Shahadat and Manjur were welcomed by BNP men when they started the day's campaign at Pachhim Bakalia.
Dr Shahadat told The Daily Star that he had been absent in Manjur's campaign, as he was facing arrest warrants in several "political" cases and was yet to get bail. 
"Some newspapers reported that I am not with Manjur Alam. But today's campaign that started in front of my house at Bakalia will be a reply to them," he said.
 Addressing a street rally in the area, Manju termed Bakalia a stronghold for BNP and urged the people to vote for him to complete his unfinished works.
"Earlier, you, the people of Bakalia, helped me win with a huge margin. To develop the area, I have tried my best and many works are yet to be done. I want another chance to serve." 
Dr Shahadat said, "All of us have to work together for ensuring the victory of Manjur Alam, as he is the 20-party backed mayor aspirant."  He termed the city election part of their anti-government movement.
Meanwhile, the city BNP president Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday demanded relocation of the venue where the results of the city election is supposed to be announced.
It should be a place other than the Chattagram Jela Krira Sangstha (CJKS) gymnasium because Awami League-backed mayor candidate AJM Nasir Uddin is general secretary of CJKS, he said.
On Tuesday, the campaigners of Manjur also accused Nasir's men of attacking the former near Chittagong Polytechnic Institute with sticks and sharp objects.
A leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, HM Rashed, alleged that three activists were injured, one of them with stab wounds, in the attack by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men. BCL denied attacking them.