Dhaka, Bangladesh — Tensions escalated in Dhaka-8 as National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Nasiruddin Patwary called for the removal of BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas following a violent incident that he alleged was orchestrated by Abbas’s associates. Patwary made these claims during a press conference held shortly after he was reportedly attacked at Habibullah Bahar College.
At the press briefing, Patwary characterized the assault as a “planned attack,” suggesting that it was engineered by Abbas’s nephew and involved local members of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the BNP’s student wing. While Patwary named several individuals purportedly involved, independent verification of his claims was not possible.
Patwary urged BNP leader Tarique Rahman to take a definitive stance, either by distancing the party from such behavior or enforcing disciplinary actions against members who engage in violence. “Mirza Abbas should be expelled from the party for breaching party discipline,” he said, emphasizing that the incident damages the BNP’s integrity.
Referencing former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Patwary expressed that she would have been embarrassed by the violent display in the name of political rivalry. The NCP leader recounted his visit to the college for a cultural festival, where he was greeted positively by some students. However, that warm reception turned sour when a group of individuals, claiming to be associated with Chhatra Dal, confronted him and demanded money.
“They mentioned that Mirza Abbas provides financial support there and asked if I could do the same,” Patwary recounted, rejecting their request and calling it corrupt. What began as a verbal exchange quickly escalated into violence, with Patwary stating that objects such as bricks and eggs were hurled at him and his supporters.
Reports indicate that several of Patwary’s supporters sustained injuries in the attack, including one individual, a woman, who required stitches after being struck on the head. Patwary criticized police presence at the scene, claiming they failed to protect him and his supporters, allowing the aggression to persist even with law enforcement present.
He also voiced dissatisfaction with the Election Commission, accusing the body of inadequately securing a fair environment as the February 12 elections approach. Despite the chaos and aggression he faced, Patwary vowed to persist in his campaign efforts, emphasizing a commitment to combat terrorism, extortion, and corruption in the region.
As the political landscape in Bangladesh intensifies with the upcoming elections, incidents like this highlight the ongoing challenges of maintaining peace and order within party politics.