A convoy carrying National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders was stopped by police again at the entrance of Habiganj’s Bahubal upazila on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the party leaders crossed a police barricade in Moulvibazar’s Sreemangal.
The convoy was halted at Muchai area of Bahubal as the leaders attempted to enter Habiganj, where Section 144 has been imposed.
Following the obstruction, NCP leaders sat on the road in protest and remained there for about an hour amid heavy rain.
Habiganj Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tarek Mahmud said the district administration had imposed Section 144, and the NCP leaders were stopped in the interest of maintaining security.
Earlier in the day, police had stopped the NCP convoy at Cha-Kanya area in Sreemangal while the leaders were heading towards Habiganj.
The leaders later crossed the barricade and resumed their journey.
The convoy included NCP Convener and lawmaker Nahid Islam, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, North Zone Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam, South Zone Chief Organiser and lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah, reserved women’s seat MP Mahmuda Mitus, and other senior party leaders.
The leaders had planned to visit Habiganj amid heightened tension following an alleged attack on NCP leaders by BNP, Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal activists in Habiganj city on Tuesday.
NCP leaders alleged that Nasiruddin Patwary and Sarjis Alam were attacked after a July procession programme at Saifur Rahman Town Hall.
They said their vehicle was vandalised and at least 20 people, including Sarjis Alam, were injured during the incident.
Following the clash, the Habiganj administration imposed Section 144 in the municipality area from Wednesday morning.
Three platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were also deployed to maintain law and order.
NCP North Zone Organiser Nahid Uddin Tarek said, “The party want to present the incident before the people. We will inform the nation through a press conference,” he said.
Habiganj district Jubo Dal Member Secretary Shafiqul Rahman Sittu said the district had a tradition of peaceful politics and urged political parties to maintain restraint.
Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Zahidul Haque said no case had been filed over Tuesday’s incident yet and the situation was currently under control.
However, NCP sources said they were in the process of filing a case in connection with Tuesday’s incident.
According to NCP leaders, the attack took place after their “July March” programme at Saifur Rahman Town Hall when their convoy reached the Sabujbag area on its way to the Circuit House.
They alleged that a group of youths attacked Nasiruddin Patwary and Sarjis Alam and vandalised their vehicle. The NCP leaders later took shelter inside the Sonali Bank main branch.
Clashes broke out between the two groups, with both sides allegedly exchanging brickbats.
Police later rescued the NCP leaders and took them to the Circuit House.
Sarjis Alam left for Moulvibazar later that night, while Nasiruddin Patwary headed towards Dhaka. Following the incident, NCP, Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal announced separate programmes, prompting the administration to impose Section 144 in Habiganj municipality.
