MP Al Amin confined for 2 hours after calling BKMEA President Hatem ‘fascists’ associate’ in Narayanganj

Narayanganj-4 lawmaker Abdullah Al Amin was confined by protesters for about two hours after he 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, also a National Citizen Party (NCP) leader, alongside Hatem.

At the venue, Al Amin declined to take a seat on stage after noticing Hatem’s presence.

As seen in a video circulating online, while delivering his speech, the MP said, “I will not share a stage with an associate of fascists.”

Following the remark, Hatem left the stage.

Soon after, a group of business leaders and activists believed to be supporters of Hatem, along with local Swechchhasebak Dal leaders, gathered at the venue and staged a protest, surrounding the programme area.

They demanded that the MP apologise to Hatem.

At one point, a scuffle broke out between them and NCP activists present at the scene.

NCP leaders claimed that local BNP activists, responding to Hatem’s call, confined the MP and carried out an attack with locally made weapons.

They alleged that four people Faisal, Zobayer, Javed Alam and Tariqul Islam — sustained minor injuries.

Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Fatullah Model Police Station, said, “Upon receiving information, we went to the scene with force. We rescued the MP and brought him to safety. We will investigate the incident and take further legal steps.”

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.

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

After nearly two hours of confinement, Additional Superintendent of Police Hasinuzzaman led a team that escorted MP Abdullah Al Amin and his associates out of the area. He was later taken to the NCP office in Chashara, Narayanganj.

Describing the incident, MP Abdullah Al Amin told journalists, “I went there at the invitation of Jamaat, but I did not know that Hatem would be present.

“When I saw him, I refused to share the stage. I said I could not sit beside an associate of a fascist. After that remark, he left and called in his people to confine me. After I informed the DC and SP, they sent forces,” he added.

By then, he said, “We saw a Swechchhasebak Dal leader leading a display of locally made weapons and assaulting my supporters. I demand a fair investigation and legal action.”

Mohammad Hatem could not be reached for comments.

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.