Saiful Islam
Police stopped the convoy of National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders in Sreemangal on Wednesday afternoon as they were heading to Habiganj to join a previously announced protest program, triggering a brief scuffle over police barricades.
The confrontation took place around 4:30pm near the Tea Maiden (Cha Kanya) sculpture on the Sreemangal-Shayestaganj road after police blocked the route with trucks and barricades.
NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Chief Organizer (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, Chief Organizer (Southern Region) and MP Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary and MP Dr Mahmuda Mitu got out of their vehicles and held talks with police officials at the scene.
At one stage, pushing and shoving broke out between police personnel and NCP leaders and activists. Hasnat Abdullah and Nasiruddin Patwary were seen in a scuffle with police as officers attempted to move them away from the barricade.
During an exchange with police, Hasnat questioned the legality of the blockade.
“If you can, provide us with security. If not, we will proceed at our own responsibility. Under what law are you stopping us?” he said.
Police officials cited security concerns, but Hasnat replied: “Who are the security threats? Instead of arresting them, you are blocking our road. You imposed Section 144 in Habiganj and are stopping us in Sreemangal. This is illegal.”
A police officer at the scene told the NCP leaders that “a major incident” could occur if they crossed the barricade.
The NCP convoy later crossed the barricade and resumed its journey to Habiganj.
According to party sources, Nahid, Opposition Chief Whip in parliament; Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain; Sarjis; Hasnat; Nasiruddin; Dr Mahmuda Mitu and other leaders left the Moulvibazar Circuit House for Habiganj around 3pm.
Police later set up barricades using trucks near the Tea Maiden sculpture, halting the convoy and causing traffic congestion, with hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road.
Moulvibazar Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sreemangal Circle) Md Wahiduzzaman Raju said the leaders had been stopped for security reasons.
The latest incident came a day after NCP leaders alleged that activists of the BNP, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal attacked their convoy in Habiganj town following Tuesday’s program, leaving several people injured.
Amid heightened tensions between the BNP and the NCP, the administration-imposed Section 144 in the Habiganj municipal area from Wednesday morning.
Local sources said Chhatra Dal activists allegedly attacked vehicles carrying NCP leaders near Habiganj Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Several vehicles belonging to journalists were also vandalized.
Sarjis Alam and Nasiruddin Patwary reportedly took shelter in a branch of Sonali Bank during the attack before police escorted them to safety.
The NCP later suspended two previously announced “July March” programs in Moulvibazar and instead announced a protest rally in Habiganj, while separate programs by BNP and Chhatra Dal further heightened tensions in the district.
