MP Al Amin confined after calling BKMEA President Hatem ‘fascists’ associate’ in Narayanganj

Narayanganj-4 lawmaker and National Citizen Party leader Abdullah Al Amin was confined by protesters after he reportedly referred to Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Mohammad Hatem as an “associate of fascists” in his speech at a iftar event in the BSCIC industrial area of Narayanganj.

The incident occurred shortly before iftar at the programme organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The invited guests included Al Amin and Hatem.

According to witnesses at the venue, Al Amin reportedly declined to take a seat on the stage after noticing Hatem’s presence.

While delivering his speech, the MP said, “I will not share a stage with an associate of fascists.”

Following the remark, Hatem reportedly left the stage. Soon after, a group of business leaders and activists believed to be supporters of Hatem gathered at the venue and staged a protest, surrounding the programme area.

Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Fatullah Model Police Station, confirmed that police were dispatched to the scene following the incident.

Members of the BSCIC Industrial Owners’ Association were among those who reportedly took position outside the factory premises where the event was being held.

Kabir Hossain Bhuiyan, a director of the association, said they had attended the programme at Jamaat’s invitation and demanded clarification regarding the MP’s statement, according to media reports.

“We came here at the invitation of Jamaat. We want to know whom the MP referred to as an associate of fascists,” he said.

Eyewitnesses later saw Al Amin being escorted out by police and placed into a vehicle at around 8:30pm.

Earlier on 11 November, Mohammad Hatem was compelled to leave an event at Government Tolaram College in Narayanganj after some local Chhatra Dal leaders labelled him a “stooge” of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The incident occurred during the Entrepreneur Conference 2025, organised by the Industrialists and Businessmen Welfare Foundation (IBDWF) to encourage youth entrepreneurship. After Hatem delivered his speech, IBDWF President Muhammad Shahidul Islam took the stage as the chief guest.

At that moment, several members of Tolaram College’s Chhatra Dal unit reportedly entered the hall, shouted at Hatem, and forced him to leave, later disrupting and shutting down the conference entirely.