Md Sanju Mia, president of Kendua upazila unit Awami League, has instructed his party men to carry arms to compel voters to exercise their franchise in favour of the boat, the electoral symbol of Awami League.

He came up with the instruction while addressing an election preparatory meeting with the party’s leaders and activists held at Ganda union under the upazila on Wednesday.

At one point in his speech, Sanju brandished a knife to the AL attendees, a knife to the AL men who attended the meeting and asked them to be prepared with such weapons to force voters into casting their ballots for the boat.

A video footage capturing the incident is currently in the possession of the reporter.  

In his address, Sanju also asked the local leaders and activists of the party to manipulate the election by any means.

Sanju is known to be the closest associate of Ashim Kumar Ukil, the incumbent lawmaker from the Netrakona-3 parliamentary seat and the ruling party-backed candidate in the election.

When contacted by a Daily Sun reporter, Sanju vehemently denied the allegations outright. However, he acknowledged issuing such directives two or three months ago when the reporter claimed to possess a video related to the matter.