Bangladesh police rescue National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders after convoy attack

Several National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders, journalists and activists were injured Tuesday evening when attackers threw bricks and stones at the party’s convoy in Habiganj, party officials said.

The convoy was near Town Hall and returning to Dhaka after a march when the attack began. Party leaders Sarjeet Alam and Nasir Uddin Patorary were among those injured.

Party leaders and activists took shelter inside a nearby Sonali Bank branch, where they remained trapped for about an hour before police rescued them and escorted them to the local Circuit House.

A party representative accused activists affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal of attacking the convoy with rods and other weapons. The representative said a media vehicle was destroyed after attackers apparently mistook it for Patwari’s car.

“If you don’t like Nasir Uddin Patorary or our criticism, criticize with words,” Alam, one of the NCP leader who was attacked, said. “If you show physical force and want to establish terrorism, then there is no difference from the past.”

Alam said attackers got on top of their vehicle with rods as part of the assault.

Local Chhatra Dal leaders denied involvement and said the attack followed what they described as provocative statements by National Citizen’s Party leaders.

“The student-public gave them an answer,” a Chhatra Dal representative said. “Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal or any affiliated organization is not involved.”

A local police official said authorities had obtained video footage and would review it to identify those involved.

“We will analyze them thoroughly, see who is involved and how the complaint comes to us,” the official said. “We will do everything and take subsequent legal action.”

The attack prompted protest rallies in Rajshahi and other parts of Bangladesh.