Suspended NCP leader assaulted in Brahmanbaria, BNP denies involvement 

A suspended leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP) was allegedly assaulted by activists of the BNP, Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal while visiting Nasirnagar Upazila in Brahmanbaria yesterday (14 August).

The victim, Asad Khokon, was allegedly assaulted around 2pm at Haripur Rajbari in Haripur union of the Upazila.

While an NCP leader put the blame on leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliates, Nasirnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahinul Islam said locals were angry with Asad and assaulted him. 

He added that Asad did not file any complaint against anyone.

Asad is a resident of Burishwar union in Nasirnagar and was a member of the NCP's Brahmanbaria district coordination committee. 

He was suspended from the party last year for violating party discipline.

According to his friend and eyewitnesses, Asad travelled by boat from the district town to Haripur Rajbari in the morning. He reached the Rajbari around noon and went live on Facebook.

Later, while he was at the Rajbari, a group of 20 to 30 people allegedly assaulted him and took him inside the premises, where he was locked in a room.

The attackers later turned him over to police in Nasirnagar Sadar while he was unconscious. After providing initial treatment, police handed him over to his family.

An NCP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that the attack was led by former Nasirnagar Government College Chhatra Dal convener Yasin Mahmud and BNP activists Md Billal and Md Morshed, along with other BNP, Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal activists.

Yasin denied the allegation.

Nasirnagar BNP General Secretary KM Bashir Uddin said the incident occurred following an argument with locals and that BNP members were not involved.