Police foiled an attempt by some ruling party men of Rangpur to force a contractor to withdraw his tender documents from deputy commissioner's office here yesterday.

Md Mansur Ali, one of the proprietors of the construction firm FSD Joint Venture of Rajshahi, alleged that some Jubo League and Awami League leaders beat him up at Mohanagar Hotel in the town as he had refused to withdraw his tender documents against a bid for construction of the Fulchhari ghat protection embankment in Gaibandha. He said some 50 ruling party activists led by AL district committee member Delwar Hossain Talukder tried to take him to the DC office by force but police rescued him.

Abdur Rashid, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said on information from the hotel a police team rushed to the spot. Sensing the presence of law enforcers the hoodlums escaped. Earlier, Water Development Board floated a tender asking the contactors to take part in the construction work of the embankment at a cost of Tk 9 crore.

The contractors of Gaibandha and Rangpur made a coalition to help a ruling party-backed contractor get the work, added Monsur. He did not agree to negotiate with them and dropped tender documents at Rangpur DC office. Manager of the hotel Tofazzal Hossain said Delwar Hossain and some unidentified people had come to the hotel and started beating up the contractor. He instantly called police. When asked, Delwar Hossain Talukder said he went there to persuade Monsur to make a negotiation with the contractors of Gaibandha.

-Daily Star