NCP undeterred by attacks and cases during July Marches

The National Citizen Party’s ‘July March’ program, announced to mark the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising, has gone beyond political campaigning and has become the center of renewed political tension following a series of attacks, clashes, and counter cases. Incidents surrounding the program in several districts, including Habiganj and Sylhet, have placed the NCP and the BNP in direct confrontation. While both sides blame each other, the NCP claims the incidents are part of a planned effort to prevent the party’s organizational expansion. The BNP, on the other hand, alleges that provocative remarks by senior NCP leaders are the main cause of the violence.

Over the past several days, clashes related to the July March program have taken place in at least five districts, including Habiganj and Sylhet. In some incidents, NCP leaders and activists were injured, while in others, vehicles in the party’s convoy were allegedly attacked and vandalized. Following the incidents, both sides filed cases against each other.

The NCP does not consider these incidents isolated. Instead, the party describes them as preplanned political attacks. According to the party, leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations are deliberately carrying out attacks and creating obstacles to prevent the rise of a new political force. NCP leaders also claim that the BNP’s central leadership is backing these incidents. However, the party has made it clear that its program will not stop because of attacks and legal cases. Instead, its high command has decided to further strengthen organizational activities at the upazila and municipality levels.

On July 28, an attack took place during speeches at the NCP’s July March in front of the Habiganj Circuit House. The party’s Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Chief Organizer for the Northern Region Sarjis Alam, and at least 10 leaders and activists were injured. Alif Chowdhury, an activist of Chhatra Shakti and the NCP who was seriously injured in the attack, permanently lost the vision in his left eye. Doctors fear that his right eye is also at risk.

In protest of the attack, the NCP announced nationwide demonstrations the following day. However, the administration imposed Section 144 in Habiganj on July 29. Later that day, another clash broke out between NCP activists and leaders and activists of local BNP affiliated organizations after a march and rally in the district town. Sarjis Alam and several others were injured. The attackers also allegedly vandalized several vehicles.

Following the attack, Habiganj District Chhatra Shakti Convener Tanmoy Taher filed a case against 111 people, naming Habiganj District Chhatra Dal President Shah Rajib Ahmed as the principal accused. Later, Habiganj District Chhatra Dal Joint General Secretary Iqbal Hossain filed a counter case against 50 people, including Nasiruddin Patwari and Sarjis Alam, accusing them of attempted murder, vandalism, and robbery.

Later, on Thursday, bricks were allegedly thrown at the convoy carrying central NCP leaders on their way to participate in the July March in Golapganj, Sylhet, and several vehicles were vandalized. Most recently, on Friday night, another attack was allegedly carried out on Nasiruddin Patwari’s convoy while returning after the July March in Jaintiapur, Sylhet. Patwari and another person were injured by shattered glass.

NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib said, “Attacks, cases, and obstacles are being created continuously to prevent the party’s organizational expansion at the upazila and municipality levels.” He claimed that leaders of the BNP at both the central and district levels are backing these incidents.

The party’s Joint Convener and Head of the Media Subcommittee Sarwar Tushar said, “The ruling party has deliberately chosen the path of attacks and repression to prevent the rise of a new political force. However, we will respond politically and further strengthen our organizational programs.”

On the other hand, leaders of the BNP and its affiliated organizations claim that provocative remarks and repeated offensive comments by several senior NCP leaders, particularly Nasiruddin Patwari, are fueling tensions at the grassroots level. They believe responsibility for these incidents lies with the NCP’s provocative politics.

Rejecting those allegations, NCP leaders said that if anyone objects to a political statement, the response should be political, not through attacks or violence. They argue that if attacks and legal cases continue against opposition political parties even after the political change on August 5, serious questions will arise about the country’s democratic environment.

Commenting on the controversy surrounding Nasiruddin Patwari, NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said, “It is the responsibility of an opposition party leader to criticize the government. If there is any violation of the law anywhere, the law will take its own course. Political statements should also be answered politically.”

Sarjis Alam, the party’s Chief Organizer for the Northern Region, said, “The way the BNP is now trying to obstruct or silence the NCP is a repetition of the way the Awami League acted in the past.”