Commotion between BNP and NCP activists, MP Hannan Masud faces backlash
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Hatiya Member of Parliament Hannan Masud faced severe backlash during a meeting of the Upazila Law and Order Committee over allegations of making "false and misleading" statements linking BNP to various issues, including the Hatiya river port, in the National Parliament.
The incident led to repeated chaotic altercations and clashes between supporters of Chhatra Dal and the National Citizen Party (NCP), leaving several individuals from both sides injured.
The incident occurred on Thursday (September 24) afternoon at the beginning of the monthly law and order committee meeting on the Hatiya Upazila Parishad premises.
Eyewitnesses said that MP Hannan Masud and his party workers encountered protests from Chhatra Dal activists at the entrance of the Parishad building while heading to attend the meeting. At one point, the MP engaged in an argument with the Chhatra Dal members. Later, several BNP leaders present at the scene intervened and escorted him into the conference room.
It was alleged that MP Hannan Masud had previously made false and misleading statements involving Hatiya BNP leaders during sessions of the National Parliament, district law and order committee meetings, and NCP party rallies. This had drawn strong resentment from Chhatra Dal activists.
Toward the end of the meeting, fresh verbal altercations broke out outside between NCP and Chhatra Dal activists. Upon learning of the tension, MP Hannan Masud left the meeting without delivering his speech. Outside, he himself became involved in an argument, which eventually escalated into pushing, shoving, and a physical brawl between the two groups.
The altercation resulted in injuries to Saifullah Islam Rakib, Member Secretary of Upazila Yuba Shakti, as well as Chhatra Dal leaders Akram, Sakib, Sakhawat Hossain Hero, Azad, and Akram. The situation was eventually brought under control with the intervention of the local administration and senior BNP leaders.
Earlier in the day, it was alleged that Abir Hossain, president of Shramik Shakti, was assaulted and injured by Chhatra Dal activists when he went to Hatiya Island Government College to enroll his wife.
Additionally, in the afternoon, Md. Saiful Islam, Senior Joint Member Secretary of Chhatra Shakti, was reportedly punched and injured by Chhatra Dal workers on the main road in front of the Upazila Mosque Market.
Amid the mounting tension, MP Hannan Masud stayed inside the Upazila Nirbahi Officer's (UNO) office for about an hour before leaving for his residence accompanied by party workers under administration escort.
Commenting on the incident, Hatiya Upazila NCP Convener Shamsul Tabriz called the event unfortunate. He stated that Chhatra Dal activists have grown reckless in their activities and alleged that the incident at the law and order meeting was staged in a planned manner.
On the other hand, Ashiq Iqbal, Joint General Secretary of Hatiya Pourashava BNP, claimed that Chhatra Dal activists were aggrieved because local MP Hannan Masud had been making provocative and false statements involving the BNP in various forums, including Parliament. However, he emphasized that there was no instruction from the BNP behind this unwanted occurrence.
