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A street rally organised by the National Citizen Party in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria municipality was foiled Saturday afternoon as a group of activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal stormed into the venue and damaged the stage.

The incident took place at about 3:45pm at the Janata Market area in Chakaria, where central leaders of NCP, including its convener Nahid Islam, were scheduled to address at about  5:00pm as part of the party’s ongoing countrywide march to mark the first anniversary of the July uprising.

The BNP activists attacked the NCP rally venue following the remarks made earlier in the day at another NCP rally in Cox’s Bazar by NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary. The NCP leader, without naming anyone directly, said a ‘new godfather’ who had arrived from Shillong was now involved in land grabbing and extortion in Cox’s Bazar.

A number of BNP leaders and activists said that Salahuddin had to stay in India’s Shillong due to the autocratic Awami League regime’s conspiracy and claimed that the NCP leader doubtlessly called BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed ‘godfather’, extortionist and land grabber.

Immediately after the attack on the rally venue, law enforcement agencies including the police and the army rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Chakaria police station officer-in-charge Shafiqul Islam.

He said that the motorcade of NCP central leaders was escorted beyond the border of Cox’s Bazar district under the protection of the law enforcement agencies.

Nasiruddin said in his speech at Cox’s Bazar rally, ‘During the Awami League regime, there was a godfather in Narayanganj, namely Shamim Osman. Now I hear that a new godfather has arrived in Cox’s Bazar from Shillong. He is grabbing people’s land and extorting money. And apparently, he doesn’t understand reform. I won’t name him, but the people of Cox’s Bazar will block his way if he continues this.’

Following this, over 50 BNP and its affiliated organisation’s activists brought out a protest procession in the Chakaria municipality area and gathered at the Janata Market premises, chanting slogans against NCP and vandalised the stage erected to hold the NCP rally.

Reacting to the incident, Chakaria Upazila Juba Dal former president Omar Ali said, ‘The people of Cox’s Bazar have rejected Nasiruddin Patwari’s offensive remarks against our leader Salahuddin Ahmed. That is why the people spontaneously damaged the NCP stage in protest.’

Chakaria BNP convener Enamul Haque said, ‘Salahuddin Ahmed is a leader deeply connected with this region. NCP must withdraw their derogatory remarks and offer an apology publicly.’

Meanwhile, protesting against the remarks made about Salahuddin Ahmed, Cox’s Bazar district unit of Chhatra Dal organised a protest rally Saturday evening at the old Shaheed Minar premises near Ghumghachhtola on the main road.

Former Chhatra Dal district president Shahadat Hossain, general secretary Fahemur Rahman, and other leaders addressed the rally.

Speaking at the event, Fahemur said, ‘We are deeply hurt by the indecent comments targeting such a senior leader of our party. This is an insult to every nationalist-minded individual, and we strongly condemn it.’

After the rally, Chhatra Dal activists brought out a procession in the town and chanted slogans against NCP leaders.

NCP joint member secretary MM Suja Uddin said, ‘We were scheduled to hold a rally in Chakaria, but BNP activists vandalised our stage. As a result, we could not hold the rally. We safely left Chakaria with our central leaders and activists with the help of law enforcement agencies. We are now in Bandarban.’

Cox’s Bazar district police’s additional superintendent Jasim Uddin said, ‘NCP leader Nahid Islam and 10-12 vehicles became stranded for about an hour in Chakaria due to agitation by some individuals. Receiving the information, the police and the army went to the scene, spoke with top BNP leaders, and safely escorted them out of Cox’s Bazar district.’