Dhaka: BNP on Thursday claimed that 12,588 opposition leaders and activists were injured in around 2,716 incidents of attack across the country during electioneering over the last 22 days.

Besides, eight leaders and activists of BNP and its alliance partners were killed in polls violence, while over 9,200 ones were arrested by police as of Wednesday since the announcement of schedule for the 11th parliamentary elections, reports the UNB.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the statistics at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

He said around 806 ‘false and fictitious’ cases were also filed against thousands of opposition leaders and activists.

The BNP leader said the ruling party men kept attacking and repressing their leaders and activists while police harassing and arresting them. ‘Our around 350-500 leaders and activists have been arrested over the last few days.’

Rizvi said even the wife and daughter of their secretary general Mirza Fakhrul came under attack in Thakurgaon while carrying out election campaign on Wednesday.

He alleged that several hundred houses of leaders and activists of BNP, Oikyafront and the 20-pary alliance were torched by the ruling party ‘cadres’. ‘Their activities and repression have outshined the brutalities of the Pakistani occupation force.’

The BNP leader criticised the Election Commission for what he said not taking any effective step to create an election atmosphere and stop attacks on opposition candidates and their supporters.