BNP men vandalise NCP rally stage in Cox’s Bazar

BNP and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activists allegedly vandalised the stage of a scheduled street rally organised by the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Saturday.

The incident took place around 3:45 pm at the Janata Shopping Centre premises in Chakaria municipality town, where the NCP had set up a truck-mounted stage for their rally.

Central leaders, including NCP convenor Nahid Islam, were scheduled to address the event around 5:00 pm.

Witnesses said a group of BNP and JCD activists, carrying sticks, stormed the venue, damaged the stage, tore banners, and smashed the truck’s windshield. NCP organisers and sound system staff were forced to leave the area.

Members of the army and police later reached the spot and dispersed the crowd.

The incident followed remarks made earlier in the day by NCP’s chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari at a rally in Cox’s Bazar town, where he allegedly made indirect comments against BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed.

"Once Shamim Osman was the godfather of Narayanganj. Now we hear a new godfather from Shillong has arrived in Cox’s Bazar, grabbing land and ponds, extorting people… and claiming he does not understand reforms,” Patwari said at the event.

BNP leaders and activists claimed the statement was derogatory and sparked outrage across the district. In protest, they took to the streets in different upazilas, including Chakaria, and began chanting slogans in support of Salahuddin around 4:00 pm.

Khairul Bashar, NCP’s Chakaria upazila organiser, told journalists that BNP and Chhatra Dal men attacked the rally venue and vandalised the stage. “They tore down banners and damaged the vehicle that was being used as the podium,” he said.

Imon Syed, NCP’s joint chief organiser, said their central leaders were on their way to the rally but did not attend due to security concerns.

“We are currently in Fasiakhali area on the Lama-Thanchi road. Some BNP men have gathered nearby. We are feeling threatened,” he added around 5:00 pm.

Contacted, Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shafiqul Islam said security personnel, including police and army members, had been deployed in the area to prevent further unrest. “We have yet to receive any formal complaint over the stage vandalism,” he added.