NCP's Nasiruddin Patwary alleges harassment at college festival, stages protest

NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwary, a candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 10-party alliance in the Dhaka-8 constituency, has staged a sit-in protest after alleging that he was harassed at a college event.

Patwary said he was targeted by members of the Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP, while attending a pitha festival at Habibullah Bahar University College as an invited guest on Tuesday, bdnews24.com reports. 

Witnesses said a group of youths chanted slogans as he arrived, leading to pushing and shoving. Patwary’s supporters alleged he was physically attacked.

Following the incident, Patwary led a protest march to the Fakirapul area, where he and his supporters staged a sit-in in front of the Parabat Hotel in Shantinagar.

A member of Patwary’s campaign team said that the attackers identified themselves as members of the Chhatra Dal.

The principal of Habibullah Bahar University College declined to comment.

However, a senior administrative official at the college disputed the allegation of an attack, saying there had been no physical violence.

There was an argument and slogan-shouting, and people chanted slogans against him, the official said, adding that the college authorities later escorted Patwary to the festival venue.

BNP candidate Mirza Abbas was also due to attend the event and was seen in the Malibagh area later in the day.

Patwary’s campaign team said an emergency press conference would be held later on Tuesday to protest the incident. NCP Convenor Nahid Islam may also attend the press conference.