Nasiruddin Patwary, the chief coordinator of National Nagorik Party (NCP) and 11-party alliance candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency, was attacked and pelted with eggs on Tuesday morning at Habibullah Bahar College.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:30am while Patwary was attending a pre-scheduled Pitha Utshab as a guest.
According to witnesses and Patwary’s media wing member, Shamil Abdullah, individuals posing as students – allegedly followers of BNP leader Mirza Abbas – launched an abrupt assault on the candidate.
Footage of the incident showed a section of the crowd chanting “Bhua Bhua” slogans, while Patwary’s supporters responded with cries of “Allahu Akbar.” The confrontation led to extreme tension across the college campus.
This marks the second such attack on the candidate recently. On Friday, 23 January, Patwary was targeted with dirty water and eggs from a building during a yard meeting in the Mouchak area of Siddheswari Road.
Following the assault, Patwary directly accused Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and a rival candidate in the same constituency, of hiring terrorists to carry out the attack.
“Today’s heinous incident proves that Mirza Abbas has not yet abandoned the politics of terror. His forces’ actions have unmasked his true face before the people,” Patwary stated. He further appealed to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman to expel Abbas from the party for breaching discipline and disrupting the electoral environment.
Later that afternoon, NCP Convener Nahid Islam held an emergency press conference at the United Bangladesh Alliance central election office in Fakirapool.
Nahid alleged that the attack was carried out on the orders of Mirza Abbas with the consent of Tarique Rahman. He noted that other NCP leaders, such as Sharif Osman Hadi, had also faced obstructions recently.
Islam characterised the attacks as a manifestation of “political fear” toward young leadership in the post-uprising era. He warned that while the party does not seek conflict, they would be forced to take “necessary measures” if the administration remains silent.
He also criticised the BNP’s history, suggesting the party should have sought forgiveness for its 2001–2006 governance. Addressing Mirza Abbas directly, Islam remarked, “if you cannot abandon this behaviour, the consequences will not be good.”
As of the latest reports, additional police have been deployed to the area to maintain control over the simmering tension. Despite the incident, Patwary remains defiant, stating he has left the judgment of this “thuggery” to the public.
He urged conscious citizens of Dhaka-8 to voice their rejection of terrorism by voting for the “Shapla Koli” symbol in the election on the 12th.
