'Allah testing my patience through Patwary', says Mirza Abbas

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas has said that Allah is testing his patience through Nasiruddin Patwari of the 11-party alliance, alleging deliberate attempts to provoke unrest ahead of the election.

"I seek prayers so that I can remain patient until election day on the 12th," he said while responding to journalists' questions during a campaign drive in Arambagh in the capital today (8 February).

Mirza Abbas, the BNP-nominated candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, claimed that an environment of tension was being created to disturb him.

He alleged that his rival candidate had been making obscene and provocative remarks with the intention of inciting clashes in the area.

"My opponent is saying things that could lead to violence. I will not go in that direction. They are making repeated attempts to sabotage the election," he said.

He further alleged that several parties were working in a planned manner to "derail the polls" and that there could be efforts to alter the results through "election engineering."

According to Abbas, actions taken by certain groups are later being blamed on other parties because their supported group "is currently in power."

He also questioned how groups with no experience in running the country were issuing threats about "settling scores" after the 12th.

Such confidence, he claimed, stems from having their people placed in "key positions" within the government.

"They have gained this courage because their associates are positioned at important places in the administration, who, if needed, will manipulate the election results according to their wishes," he alleged.