The internal conflict within the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Chattogram has escalated into a legal battle, with metropolitan leader Sadia Afrin filing a Tk5 crore defamation case against party activist Sanjida Sultana Eva and another leader.
Sadia Afrin filed the case before the Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Sunday, naming Eva as the main defendant and NCP Chattogram Metropolitan Co-Organising Secretary Hujjatul Islam Said as the second defendant.
Eight to 10 unnamed individuals have also been accused of instigating from behind the scenes. The court assigned the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to probe the matter.
In her complaint, Sadiya Afrin claimed that Eva and her associates, through mutual conspiracy, plotted to destroy her social and political reputation by fabricating a false incident. She alleged that the General Diary filed by Eva and the subsequent press conference were part of a “planned trap” to frame her and central leader SM Suja Uddin out of political revenge. She claimed to have suffered defamation worth approximately Tk 5 crore.
How it began
The controversy began on 14 June at Hotel Peninsula in Chattogram’s GEC area. Eva had alleged that Sadiya took her to the hotel’s rooftop bar under the pretext of organisational discussions, where she was pressured into drinking and smoking in the presence of Suja Uddin.
According to Eva, when Sadia left, Suja Uddin attempted to molest her and made indecent proposals.
A three-member central investigation committee, led by Chief Organizer (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, visited Chattogram on 23 June to interrogate both parties. CCTV footage reviewed by investigators showed Sadia repeatedly leaving Eva alone with Suja Uddin and going downstairs.
Meanwhile, Suja Uddin could not satisfactorily explain why he called Eva several times after she left the hotel, sources said.
Following the incident, NCP’s Chattogram Metropolitan Convener Mir Mohammad Shoaib and Member Secretary Arif Moinuddin were served show-cause notices for allegedly taking sides before the investigation report was submitted.
Separately, the second defendant in the defamation case, Hujjatul Islam Said, denied all allegations and said he is filing a Tk10 crore defamation case against Suja Uddin, Sadia Afrin, Arif Moinuddin, and Sadiq Arman.
PBI is currently investigating the case, analysing CCTV footage, call records, and hotel bills.
