Rumeen Farhana's wreath torn as local BNP activists block tribute at Sarail Shaheed Minar
Formerly a BNP leader, Rumeen Farhana described the assault as a planned attack led by "thugs" and warned that the BNP's failure to discipline its grassroots would lead to "dire consequences"
Rumeen Farhana, the independent member of parliament (MP) for Brahmanbaria-2, was prevented from paying her respects at the Sarail upazila Central Shaheed Minar after local BNP activists allegedly attacked her supporters and tore her floral wreath to pieces.
The incident, which unfolded early today (21 February), forced the lawmaker to leave the premises without paying her tributes to the martyrs of the Language Movement.
Witnesses said that Rumeen Farhana, formerly a BNP leader, arrived at the Shaheed Minar at approximately 11:45pm yesterday to observe National Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day.
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According to the Warrant of Precedence, as an elected MP, I should have been the first to offer flowers. Instead, BNP people launched an attack on my activists, and I was nearly pushed to the ground
As she stood before the altar with her floral tribute, a group led by Anwar Hossain, former general secretary of Sarail upazila BNP, reportedly began chanting "bhua, bhua" (fake) slogans.
The situation rapidly deteriorated into a scuffle between the two groups. During the chaos, agitated BNP activists allegedly snatched the wreath from the MP's hands and shredded it.
Police eventually intervened to bring the situation under control, and Rumeen was escorted from the area by her followers for her safety.
'Dire consequences'
In the aftermath of the incident, her supporters blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Shahbazpur for nearly an hour, disrupting traffic in protest of the assault.
Speaking to journalists at her residence in Shahbazpur at around 1:45am, Rumeen, who won her seat as a BNP "rebel" candidate in the 13th national election, warned that the party's failure to discipline its grassroots would lead to "dire consequences".
She described the assault as a planned attack led by "thugs" who are struggling to accept their electoral defeat.
"According to the Warrant of Precedence, as an elected MP, I should have been the first to offer flowers. Instead, BNP people launched an attack on my activists, and I was nearly pushed to the ground," the lawmaker said.
She added that after being away from power for 17 years, such "violent desperation" from local leaders to assert political dominance would severely tarnish the image of the newly formed BNP government.
Rumeen urged the BNP high command to take immediate action against those involved.
"If the party does not control its leaders at the local level now, the outcome will be horrific. The top leadership must monitor this and take instant measures to prevent further damage to the party and the government's reputation," she asserted.
Sarail Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Abubakor Sarkar confirmed that the administration performed its state duties at 12:01am, adding that police will probe anything "untoward" involving the MP and political groups and take appropriate legal steps.
