Dhaka: BNP-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Tabith Awal was allegedly obstructed from offering Jumma prayers at a mosque in Tejgaon area as the Education Minister and the State Minister for Home Affairs were to go to the same mosque.

Tabith’s election campaign coordination team member Abdullah Al Harun Sohel said the BNP-supported DNCC mayoral runner was scheduled to say the Jumma prayers at Rahim Metal Jam-e-Mosque at Nabisco and carry out electioneering in the area.

Sohel said Tejgaon Industrial Area police operation officer Aminul Islam and a sub-inspector Azizul Islam went to Tabith’s election office in Tejgaon around noon and asked them to tell Tabith not to go the mosque as education minister Nurul Islam Nahid and the State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal will go to the mosque for offering prayers.

He said Tabith later offered Jumma prayers at Nakhal Para Baro Mosque to avoid any untoward incident.

Contacted, Tejgaon Industrial police officer-in-charge Salahuddin termed the allegation baseless.

The OC said state minister offered Jumma prayers at a mosque in Begun Bari area not at the Rahim Metal Jam-e-Mosque.

Earlier in the morning, Tabith conducted his electioneering in the city’s Mohakhali area.

Talking to reporters, Tabith said the Election Commission is not playing its due role for holding a fair election.

He urged the commission to take necessary steps so that voters can freely cast their votes in a peaceful atmosphere.