Supporters of deprived BNP leaders stage protests across districts as BNP announces candidates
From Kushtia to Satkhira, Madaripur and Cumilla, enraged BNP activists demanded that the party review its decisions and nominate their preferred leaders instead.
Protests have erupted across several districts after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced its list of candidates for the upcoming national election, with supporters of deprived nomination seekers taking to the streets, blocking highways, and setting tyres ablaze in anger.
From Kushtia to Satkhira, Madaripur and Cumilla, enraged BNP activists demanded that the party review its decisions and nominate their preferred leaders instead.
Police were deployed in multiple areas to bring the situation under control as demonstrations disrupted traffic and caused temporary chaos.
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Protests in Satkhira over nomination
In Kaliganj upazila of Satkhira-3 constituency, BNP activists staged demonstrations after the party nominated Kazi Alauddin.
The protest took place in Nalta on Monday evening, where local BNP leaders and activists held a rally following a procession, reports our Satkhira correspondent.
Upazila BNP General Secretary Jahangir Alam, Nalta Union Parishad Chairman Azizul Islam, Upazila Jubo Dal General Secretary Sheikh Aziz, and several other leaders joined the protest.
Speakers at the rally urged BNP's acting chairman to reconsider the nomination and instead choose BNP executive committee member Dr Shahidul Alam as the candidate for the seat.
In Satkhira-2, BNP supporters of Abdul Alim took to the streets in protest against the nomination of expelled BNP leader Abdur Rouf.
After 10pm on Monday, hundreds of BNP activists held a torch procession from the Bscic intersection to Risilpi Mor, demanding that Alim, the seven-time elected chairman of Labsa Union, be nominated instead.
Leaders including district Swechchhasebak Dal senior joint convener Anarul Islam and local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders addressed the rally, urging the party's acting chairman and central leaders to reconsider their decision.
Blockade on Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway
In Madaripur's Shibchar upazila, supporters of BNP leader Sajjad Hossain alias Lablu Siddiqui, who was denied nomination for Madaripur-1, blocked the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway and set tyres on fire on Monday night, reports our Madaripur correspondent.
The protest began around 7:30pm at the Panchchar roundabout, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the expressway.
According to sources, Zaman Kamal Nuruddin Mollah was nominated for the Madaripur-1 constituency, excluding local leader and district BNP Joint Convener Sazzad Hossain Siddiqui Lablu.
In protest, Lavlu's supporters set fire to tyres and blocked the expressway, disrupting traffic between Dhaka and 21 southern districts. Hundreds of vehicles were stuck on both sides of the highway, causing severe suffering for passengers and drivers.
Shibchar Highway Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zahurul Islam said police rushed to the scene and were trying to bring the situation under control. "As the number of protesters is large, it is taking time to manage the situation," he added.
Law enforcement officials tried to disperse the protesters, but they refused to lift the blockade initially, he added.
Chanting slogans in favour of Lablu, protesters demanded that BNP withdraw the nomination of Zaman Kamal, and replace him with Lablu.
Lablu Siddiqui told The Business Standard, "BNP has given nominations to people who never worked for the party. Some of them even chanted 'Joy Bangla' in the past. They had never been in Shibchar before 5 August."
Traffic resumed around 9:50pm after the intervention of army and police personnel.
Anger spills onto streets in Kushtia
In Kushtia, BNP supporters blocked roads and rail lines on Monday evening to protest the denial of a party ticket to Principal Sohrab Uddin, a key local leader.
Protesters lit tyres on fire and occupied the Mazampur Gate area, halting transport movement temporarily, reports our Kushtia correspondent.
They also demonstrated in the Madhupur area under Lakshmipur Union, chanting slogans demanding justice for "deprived leaders."
Police rushed to the scene and restored order after some time.
"The situation is under control, and no untoward incident occurred. Additional forces have been deployed to prevent further unrest," said Kushtia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mosharraf Hossain.
BNP has nominated district BNP member secretary Engineer Zakir Hossain Sarkar for Kushtia Sadar-3. However, local sources said the announcement has sparked mixed reactions across several constituencies, with supporters of excluded leaders vowing to continue protests.
Demonstrations in Cumilla city
In Cumilla, supporters of Aminur Rashid Yasin, a member of the BNP chairperson's advisory Council, protested at Kandirpar after he was denied a nomination.
The protest began after 10pm on Monday, with Yasin's followers burning tyres at Pubali Chattar, Ramghatla, and Liberty Mor areas, reports our Cumilla correspondent.
They accused BNP nominee Monirul Haque Chowdhury of maintaining close ties with the ruling Awami League. "Yasin has sacrificed for the BNP for 17 years, facing attacks, cases, and jail time. We reject this unjust nomination," said one of Yasin's supporters.
