NCP Rally Stage Vandalized in Chakaria; Tension Eased by Army and Police Intervention

Tensions ran high between activists of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Chakaria on Saturday (July 19) afternoon. The situation escalated around an NCP street rally at the Janata Shopping Center premises, prompting the army and police to intervene swiftly to bring the situation under control.

Eyewitnesses reported that around 3:30 PM, NCP leaders were preparing for a rally on a makeshift stage built atop a truck. At that moment, BNP and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing) activists arrived at the scene wielding sticks, vandalized the stage, broke the truck’s windshield, and tore down banners. During the attack, NCP members were forced to retreat from the area.

The incident was triggered earlier in the day by comments made during another NCP rally in Cox’s Bazar city. There, NCP’s Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari indirectly referred to BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed as a “godfather,” which sparked outrage among BNP supporters. In his speech, Patwari said, “Dear people of Cox’s Bazar, once there was the infamous godfather Shamim Osman in Narayanganj under the Awami League regime—now I hear a new godfather has arrived from Shillong to Cox’s Bazar. He’s grabbing enclosures, seizing people’s land, and extorting money.”

According to the NCP, their central leaders, including Convener Nahid Islam, were scheduled to speak at the rally around 5:00 PM. However, due to the deteriorating situation, the entire program had to be canceled. The party claims its senior leaders are currently staying in the Fasiakhali area and are in fear, as BNP activists remain active in nearby locations.

Chakaria Upazila NCP organizer Khairul Bashar said, “We wanted to hold our program peacefully, but a premeditated attack has ruined everything.”

Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Shafiqul Islam confirmed, “Police and army were deployed at the scene. The situation is now under control. No formal complaint has been filed yet.”

Meanwhile, NCP’s Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud expressed his frustration on social media, writing: “Just as the League has done for the past 16 years, now you are doing the same. If you fail to learn from their fate, then prepare to meet the same end yourselves.”