The Amnesty International has condemned the Sunday’s attack on Dhaka-17 by-election independent candidate Ashraful Hossain Alam, better known as Hero Alam, while the election was in progress.
The rights watchdog also urged the Bangladesh authorities to investigate into the matter immediately and impartially and bring the attackers to book.
‘We strongly condemn the assault against Hero Alam, the independent candidate for by-elections in Dhaka-17 constituency,’ the Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office, tweeted on Tuesday.
Such an attack sends a chilling message ahead of the country's next general elections in January 2024, the tweet said.
‘The authorities must immediately and impartially investigate the attack, and bring the perpetrators to account. Human rights must be respected at all times, especially before, during and after elections,’ the tweet read.
Earlier, the United Nations in Bangladesh expressed concern over the attack while the United States of America called for holding the perpetrators to account.
Hero Alam was allegedly beaten by the ruling Awami League activists in the presence of the police at the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre during Monday’s by-poll in Dhaka.
