BNP Leaders Beat Up 4 Jamaat Leaders Inside UNO Office

Local Correspondent

In Pabna’s Sujanagar Upazila, leaders of the BNP brutally assaulted four leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, including the upazila nayeb-e-ameer, inside the office of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in his presence.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, March 3, at the office of Sujanagar UNO Mir Rasheduzzaman. A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, escalating tensions in the area. Police intervened to control the situation, but the incident has heightened animosity between Jamaat and BNP supporters.

The four Jamaat leaders who were assaulted are: Faruq-e-Azam, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Sujanagar Jamaat; Tutul Biswas, Secretary; Waliullah Biswas, former President of Jamaat’s labor welfare organization; and Mostaq Ahmed, a former councilor affiliated with Jamaat.

Reliable sources claim that the conflict between Jamaat and BNP over control of a sand quarry in the area had been ongoing for a long time.

Eyewitnesses reported that around 3:30 PM, the four Jamaat leaders went to the UNO’s office to discuss a matter. While waiting in the office as the UNO was busy, a group of BNP leaders, led by former Youth and Sports Secretary Majibur Rahman, arrived to meet the UNO. Unable to meet him, the BNP leaders grew impatient and questioned why the Jamaat leaders were sitting there for hours.

This led to an exchange of words, and when the Jamaat leaders responded with verbal abuse, the BNP leaders left the room and called in more supporters. Around 30-40 BNP activists, including Majibur Rahman, Babu Khan, Manik Khan, Abdul Bashed, and Arif Sheikh, entered the UNO’s office and brutally beat the Jamaat leaders. The injured Jamaat leaders were later rescued and taken to the upazila health complex for treatment. Police arrived and brought the situation under control.

The incident has sparked widespread tension across the upazila. Following the assault, KM Hesab Uddin, Ameer of Sujanagar Jamaat, along with hundreds of Jamaat and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists, rushed to the UNO’s office to protest the incident.

A meeting between the UNO, BNP, and Jamaat leaders continued until 5:30 PM, after which it was decided to take legal action, calming the situation.

Confirming the incident, Sujanagar UNO Mir Rasheduzzaman said, “Since the assault took place in my office and disrupted official work, legal action will be taken after consulting higher authorities.”

KM Hesab Uddin, Ameer of Sujanagar Jamaat, said, “Our leaders and workers are not even safe in government offices.”

He accused the BNP leaders of becoming “godfathers of terrorism and extortion” after August 5. He alleged that despite being involved in extortion, illegal sand extraction, drug trafficking, theft, robbery, and abduction, no legal action has been taken against them. He warned that if strict action is not taken, Jamaat will announce larger organizational programs.

Sujanagar Police Station’s Acting Officer-in-Charge (OC), Majibur Rahman, said, “The incident is unfortunate. The victims have not yet filed a case. If they lodge a complaint, a case will be filed, and appropriate legal action will be taken.”