Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) today (29 July) filed a complaint over yesterday’s attack on their leaders and activists after police prevented them from entering Habiganj to join a planned protest rally.
An NCP delegation submitted the complaint at the Kamaichhara Police Investigation Outpost on the Habiganj-Moulvibazar road at around 8pm.
Speaking to reporters after filing the complaint, NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said the case application was filed by Habiganj district Jubo Shakti Convener Tonmoy Taher, naming Habiganj district Chhatradal President Shah Rajib Ahmed Ringon and 10 others, alongside more than 100 unidentified individuals.
“We demand that the complaint be accepted as a case within two hours,” Nahid said.
He alleged that police obstructed the party’s scheduled protest rally in Habiganj and did not allow even a five-member delegation to enter the district to file the complaint.
After submitting the complaint, the NCP leaders returned to Moulvibazar.
Habiganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Tarique Mahmud and other senior police officials were present at the investigation centre.
Earlier in the day, police intercepted the NCP convoy at the Cha Kannya sculpture area in Sreemangal as party leaders, including Nahid Islam, Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, Chief Organisers Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, and Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, were heading to Habiganj.
A brief scuffle broke out between police and NCP activists during the standoff, with party leaders questioning the legality of the restrictions.
Police, however, cited security concerns and the possibility of violence.
Although the convoy crossed the first barricade after negotiations, it was stopped again near the Rashidpur Gas Field at the Habiganj border, where police blocked the road with trucks.
Despite discussions with the Habiganj police chief, the leaders were not allowed to enter the district.
The NCP had announced today’s rally to protest an alleged attack on its leaders and activists following the party’s July March programme in Habiganj yesterday (28 July), blaming Chatradal activists for the violence.
Chatradal denied the allegation, claiming local residents reacted to what it described as provocative remarks made by NCP leaders against Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the BNP.
Amid counter-programmes announced by the NCP and Chatradal, the Habiganj district administration imposed Section 144 in the municipality, prohibiting political gatherings, processions and demonstrations indefinitely to avert possible clashes.
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