Advisers Fouzul, Adilur and Bashir briefly confined at Bhola DC office over 5-point demand

Three advisers to the interim government were confined for nearly 20 minutes inside the Bhola Deputy Commissioner's office premises yesterday (14 November), as locals lay in front of their vehicles and chanted slogans regarding their five-point demand, including the "long-promised" Bhola-Barishal Bridge.

Earlier that day, Energy Adviser Md Fouzul Kabir Khan, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin had travelled to the district to attend a meeting on economic development.

The situation escalated after Adviser Fouzul told attendees that the design work for the Bhola-Barishal Bridge had not yet begun and that the project remained pending at the policy-approval stage.

His statement contradicted an earlier assurance reportedly given by him and the Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Sheikh Moinuddin, who had promised that construction would start in December.

Frustrated by this reversal, members of the "Amra Bholabashi" committee and local residents surrounded the advisers as they tried to leave the DC office, even lying down in front of their vehicles to block the driveway.

Tensions escalated as protesters raised slogans urging the authorities to fulfil their five-point demand, including the construction of the bridge.

Speaking to reporters, committee member Mehedi Hasan accused the government of backtracking on its commitments.

"We accepted their decision not to provide household gas connections. But they promised the bridge's foundation work would start in December. Now they say even the design hasn't started. We demand the resignation of the energy and commerce advisers," he said.

Local political leaders later intervened, allowing the advisers to safely leave the area.

Protesters warned that unless the government meets their five-point demand, including immediate progress on the Bhola-Barishal Bridge, they would bar the transport of Bhola's gas to other regions.