The tension between General Ziaur Rahmanโs BNP and Muhammad Yunusโ NCP, a pro-Jamaat party, reached a new peak after the Kingโs party failed to hold its planned road march programmes at Eidgaon and Chakaria upazilas in Coxโs Bazar on Saturday, only three days after fleeing Gopalganj in the face of mounting protests.
The protesters vandalised the stage of the NCP rally in Chakaria after holding a procession, blocked the convoy for over an hour, and marched with shoes in their hands in Sitakunda.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) came under severe criticism and drew protest marches in different areas of Coxโs Bazar as its chief organiser, Nasiruddin Patwary, slandered BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed during a speech at noon.
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Formerly a Chhatra Shibir activist, Patwary labelled Salahuddin as the neo-godfather of the coastal district, without mentioning his name, alleging that the BNP leader has been occupying shrimp enclosures and land, and extorting people.
Shalahuddin was also taunted by the NCP leader for his reservations about some of the reform proposals put forward by the unconstitutional interim government.
NCP Convener Nahid Islam said that they will not allow any godfather to operate anywhere in Bangladesh. He affirmed that their demand for proportional representation (PR) and a constitutional council must be fulfilled.
Another mobster of the NCP, Hasnat Abdullah, blamed the BNP for opposing some of the reform proposals and demanding quick elections. He added that elections must be held only after reforms.
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In Dhaka, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain also criticised the BNP, without mentioning the name, on Saturday.
Attending a rally of Jamaat-e-Islami at Suhrawardy Udyan, the NCP leader said that fundamental reforms are needed to protect democracy in this country. Those who do not want PR in the upper house in the elections are cheating the nation.
NCPโs criticisms of the BNP angered the party leaders and workers, who posted their fierce reactions on social media. Chhatra Dal held a rally at the old Shaheed Minar in the Ghumgachhtola area, followed by a procession.
At the same time, leaders and activists of BNP, Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal and other affiliated organisations held protest marches and rallies in Chakaria, Ramu, Eidgaon, Ukhiya, and Teknaf upazilas.
The Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Road was blocked in Ukhiya in the afternoon for two hours.
In the face of protests, the NCP could not hold its pre-scheduled road marches in Eidgaon and Chakaria.
In Chakaria, BNP and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists attacked the rally stage on the Janata Shopping Centre premises with sticks at around 3:45pm.
The army and police went to the spot and charged batons to disperse the protesters, but did not open fire, as seen in Gopalganj, which killed at least five people on Wednesday.
NCP’s Chakaria Upazila Organiser Khairul Bashar alleged that the attackers vandalised the stage with sticks and tore banners while shouting various slogans.
Police said 10-12 vehicles, including NCP leader Nahid Islam’s car, were stopped by the protesters in Chakaria for an hour. The police and army went to talk to the top BNP leaders and let them cross Cox’s Bazar safely.
At night, a faction of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM) held a protest march on the main road of the city, chanting slogans against Patwary and blaming the NCP for creating discrimination.
Around 7pm, the NCP convoy encountered the leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations when they crossed Keranihat and entered the Keranihat-Bandarban Highway.
The protesters repeatedly chanted โBhua,โ or fake, at the NCP leaders.
The NCP was supposed to hold a roadside meeting at Keranihat station under Satkania Upazila on their way to Bandarban.
Meanwhile, in Banshkhali, Chittagong, an NCP organiser was attacked and beaten during the July march campaign in the Jaldi area of the upazila around 8:30pm on Saturday.
Injured Tanvir Sikder alleged that they were campaigning for their programme. During that time, followers of Liakat Ali, who is the former joint convener of Chittagong South District BNP and the former chairman of Gandamara Union Parishad, came, took away the banner, and burned it. They also hit him on the head.
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