Police have blocked NCP leaders headed from Moulvibazar to Habiganj at Sreemangal’s Cha-Kanya amid rising political tensions.
A convoy of vehicles carrying NCP leaders left Moulvibazar Circuit House for Habiganj shortly before 4pm on Wednesday. They were stopped at Cha-Kanya around 4:30pm.
NCP Convenor MP Nahid Islam, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, and Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam are part of the convoy.
Party leaders alleged that activists of the BNP, Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal, and Jubo Dal attacked an NCP event in Habiganj following a programme on Tuesday. Several people were injured in the violence.
The local administration has imposed Section 144 in Habiganj municipal area since Wednesday morning amid mounting tensions between the BNP and NCP over the incident.
A Habiganj police officer said law enforcers are working to control the overall situation. Police have been deployed in the border areas of Moulvibazar and Habiganj and are on alert.
On Tuesday evening, it was alleged that local Chhatra Dal leaders and activists ambushed a vehicle carrying NCP leaders on their way back from a march in front of the town hall in Habiganj.
Police said that several vehicles of journalists were vandalised during this time. Several leaders and activists of the party were injured in the incident.
In addition, the party's Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis and Chief Coordinator Patwary were blockaded.
They took shelter in a Sonali Bank branch to escape the attack. Later, the police went and rescued them.
On Wednesday, the NCP temporarily suspended two previously announced “July Marches” in Moulvibazar and announced protest processions and rallies in Habiganj town.
Tensions in the area escalated as the district’s Chhatra Dal and BNP units announced separate programmes.
Law-enforcing agencies have been kept on alert to maintain order.