Tensions erupted between two rival factions of the BNP in Debidwar, Cumilla, on Sunday as separate programmes marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day turned confrontational, with one group blocking the vehicle of a reserved-seat lawmaker and vandalising a car belonging to a party leader.
Supporters of expelled former MP Engineer Manzurul Ahsan Munshi blocked the vehicle of reserved-seat MP Rasheda Begum Hira and several other BNP leaders as they were returning from a rally. They also vandalised a vehicle belonging to MA Awal Khan, former general secretary of Gulshan Thana BNP.
The incident took place around 7:30pm on SA Government College Road in Debidwar municipality. No casualties were reported.
According to party sources, the two BNP factions had organised separate rallies and processions to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
One faction was led by former MP Manzurul Ahsan Munshi and Cumilla North District BNP Member Secretary AFM Tarek Munshi. The other held its programme under the banners of Debidwar Upazila and Municipal BNP.
At around 4:30pm, the upazila and municipal BNP organised a rally near Rahmania Super Market in the New Market area.
Reserved-seat MP for the Cumilla-4 constituency Rasheda Begum Hira attended as the chief guest.
BNP National Executive Committee member Saidur Rahman Liton, former Chhatra Dal leader MA Abdul Awal Khan and Cumilla North District BNP Convener Abul Hashem were also present.
After the rally, the leaders brought out a procession towards the upazila parishad.
Meanwhile, the faction led by Munshi and Tarek Munshi held a separate rally at Debidwar Reaz Uddin Pilot Government High School field around 5pm. After the programme, their procession moved towards the New Market area and proceeded to SA Government College Road despite police restrictions.
As Hira and the other leaders were returning, Munshi’s supporters allegedly blocked their convoy and vandalised a vehicle belonging to BNP leader MA Awal Khan.
Police and several senior leaders later helped the convoy leave the area through the Chandina road.
Awal Khan said protesters stopped their vehicles and verbally abused them while they were returning from the rally.
“Although MP Hira’s vehicle managed to pass with police assistance, they vandalised my car,” he said, adding that he had informed senior BNP leaders, who advised him to file a case against those responsible.
Hira said she had been invited to attend the rival faction’s programme but declined because it was not organised by the party’s approved committee.
“I had asked them to organise a joint programme. I thought it would be held together, but after arriving, I learned that separate programmes had been arranged,” she said.
She alleged that the protesters had previously threatened her and later surrounded and attacked her vehicle. She said she had to leave the area under police protection.
AFM Tarek Munshi said his faction had held a peaceful rally and procession. He acknowledged that some activists became agitated after seeing the other faction’s convoy.
“I personally went to MP Hira’s vehicle and moved the activists away, helping her car leave safely,” he said.
He added that he later learned Awal Khan’s vehicle had been vandalised but was not present when it happened.
Party sources said tensions between the factions had been growing since Cumilla North District BNP Convener Abul Hashem relieved Upazila BNP Member Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad of his position.
Azad had signed a press release announcing a programme on behalf of Munshi’s supporters, prompting the district leadership to take disciplinary action.
Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Moniruzzaman said there had been no major clash.
He said police cleared the road by moving activists away from the vehicles. Regarding Awal Khan’s car, he said its windshield had broken after someone struck it hard.
No complaint had been filed with the police station over the incident as of Sunday evening, he added.
