National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary came under attack and his vehicle was vandalised at Lalon Shah’s Akhra in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia on Sunday evening.
Eggs were thrown at Patwary as he was leaving the shrine, while a group of people allegedly attacked him and his entourage. Police later took him to a safe location.
Kushtia Superintendent of Police Aminul Islam confirmed the attack but said he was unaware of the reported vandalism.
“I have been informed of the attack, but I do not know about the vehicle being vandalised. I was unaware of when or why he came here. He has been taken into police custody, and additional police personnel are being sent there,” he said.
Several videos of the incident have since circulated on Facebook.
Shovon Ahmed, member secretary of the NCP’s Bheramara upazila unit, who accompanied Patwary, said Patwary and several others had visited different tourist attractions in Kushtia in their personal capacity.
After visiting Shilaidaha in the afternoon, they went to Lalon Shah’s Akhra in the evening. As Patwary was leaving after listening to music at the shrine, two women approached him for photographs, when someone threw an egg at him, Shovon said.
He alleged that 20–25 people then gathered and verbally abused Patwary. One of them allegedly asked, “Why have you come here?” before attempting to attack him.
Shovon said the attackers were carrying sticks and that several NCP activists were injured while shielding Patwary.
“The incident lasted two to three minutes. The attackers then hurled bricks at the vehicle parked near the shrine’s main gate, smashing its windows,” he said.
NCP Kushtia district member secretary Sultan Maruf Talha alleged that Chhatra Dal activists were behind the attack and said the party would file a case.
Kushtia district Chhatra Dal Convener Mozakkir Rahman Rabbi, however, denied the allegation.
“If Nasiruddin was attacked, it is certainly condemnable. Chhatra Dal does not believe in mob politics and could not have been involved in the incident in any way,” he said.
