Tension Erupts During Minister’s Boga Bridge Site Visit
Collected Photo
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam faced a tense situation while visiting the proposed site of the Boga Bridge over the Lohalia River between Bauphal and Dumki upazilas in Patuakhali to assess the project’s feasibility. The incident took place in the Boga area around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Locals said organizers installed gates, banners, and festoons across the area ahead of the minister’s visit. The banners featured photos of Jamaat leader and Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal) MP Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud and the bridge minister, but did not include a photo of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, triggering anger among local BNP leaders and activists.
At one stage, activists from Jamaat and BNP gathered around the minister and began chanting rival slogans, escalating tensions in the area. Considering the situation, the minister did not attend the rally scheduled in Boga and later joined another previously scheduled event in Dumki upazila.
Bauphal Upazila BNP Member Secretary Appel Firoz said, “Our Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is giving the bridge to Boga and sent the bridge minister for this purpose. But the banners put up by the Jamaat MP from Bauphal included photos of the minister and himself, while excluding Tarique Rahman’s photo. Activists became angry because the country’s prime minister was not featured. However, I was not present at the scene.”
On the other hand, Bauphal Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Rafiqul Islam claimed supporters of former lawmaker Shahidul Alam Talukder attempted to prevent the minister from going to the stage.
According to him, the stage banner did not contain anyone’s photo. He added that organizers also did not use any individual’s photo on the banner at the Dumki event.
