Bakshiganj BNP President Defends Former Youth League Leader Against Murder Allegations

Bakshiganj Upazila Nationalist Party (BNP) President Manik Sawdagor has ignited controversy after claiming in a viral video that a local Jubo League leader was instrumental in sustaining the BNP’s presence in the region during the 17-year tenure of the ousted Awami League government.

The remarks, which surfaced on social media Wednesday morning, defend Nazrul Islam, the former mayor of Bakshiganj and former convener of the municipal Jubo League. Manik Sawdagor, who is the elder brother of Nazrul Islam, alleged that his brother is currently being targeted by a conspiracy and has been falsely implicated in three murder cases. During a discussion meeting marking the 48th anniversary of the BNP on Tuesday, the local party president warned those he claimed were orchestrating the legal actions against Islam.

In the viral footage, Sawdagor asserted that Islam protected the BNP across seven unions during the previous administration. He claimed that Islam had joined the Awami League under the guidance of former Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat. Sawdagor challenged anyone to prove that Islam had harmed the party, insisting that the murder charges against him were part of a coordinated smear campaign.

Local party records indicate that Nazrul Islam previously served as the general secretary of the Upazila Jubo Dal. He joined the Jubo League in 2015 through the influence of former lawmaker Abul Kalam Azad and subsequently became the convener of the municipal Jubo League in 2016. In 2019, he secured election as the mayor of Bakshiganj as an independent candidate, a move that Sawdagor claims resulted in his expulsion from the Jubo League.

Information Minister Andalib Rahman Partha says government is processing long-awaited Barishal-Bhola bridge project

Read Article

Since the political upheaval on August 5, 2024, multiple cases have been filed against local leaders associated with the former ruling party. While many political figures have fled, Islam remained in the area until his arrest in August 2025 in Dhaka’s Uttara. Following seven months in detention, he was released on bail and has since been spotted attending local party functions.

When questioned about Islam’s formal standing, Manik Sawdagor clarified that while his brother has not yet officially rejoined the BNP, a return to the party remains a possibility. The endorsement has triggered significant internal discourse, as critics and some senior district-level leaders have previously demanded accountability for those who held positions within the Awami League’s front organizations.