Police intervene as BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami rallies converge in Araihazar
Photo Collected
Tensions flared in Narayanganj’s Araihazar upazila on Saturday as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami held separate protest marches in the same area simultaneously. The overlapping demonstrations led to a tense face-off between the two groups of activists, though prompt intervention by local law enforcement prevented the situation from escalating into physical conflict.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, the incident unfolded near the Araihazar Bazar area around 5:00 p.m. and lasted for approximately ninety minutes. Jamaat-e-Islami had organized a demonstration as part of its central program, demanding the implementation of a “July Charter,” while a separate BNP procession arrived in the vicinity at the same time. The proximity of the two gatherings caused immediate friction, prompting local police to deploy and position themselves between the factions to maintain order.
Leadership for the BNP contingent included district committee member Lutfor Rahman and local party officials Yusuf Ali Bhuiyan and Jewel Ahmed. The Jamaat procession was led by district amir Muminur Haque Sarkar, social welfare secretary Elias Molla, and local leader Maulana Monirul Islam.
Following the event, both parties traded allegations regarding the overlap. Elias Molla, speaking on behalf of Jamaat, asserted that their protest was a pre-scheduled event and accused the BNP of attempting to disrupt their activities. Conversely, Jewel Ahmed of the BNP rejected these claims, maintaining that the BNP’s demonstration was also planned in advance and denying any intentional provocation.
Araihazar Police Station officer-in-charge Md. Sabjel Hossain confirmed that additional police units were deployed to the bazaar area to stabilize the situation. In comments reported by Prothom Alo, he noted that the authorities took necessary precautions to ensure public safety. No violence occurred, and both groups eventually concluded their programs and vacated the area without further incident.
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