The local administration in Santhia Upazila of Pabna has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure following tensions between activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami over the leasing process of a temporary cattle market. The order will remain in force from 11:00 a.m. on Thursday until midnight on the day before Eid-ul-Azha.
According to official sources, the Santhia Municipality initiated steps to lease an open space beside the embankment on the banks of the Ichhamati River, adjacent to Santhia Bazar, for use as a temporary cattle market. With approval from the Deputy Commissioner, an auction was called on 19 May at the Upazila Parishad hall room. A total of 26 interested individuals participated, each depositing a security fee of 20,000 taka.
However, tensions emerged during the auction process between participants linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami. In response, the Municipal Administrator and Assistant Commissioner (Land), Asif Raihan, suspended the auction. A subsequent attempt to resume the auction on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. again led to heated arguments and renewed tension between the two sides. At one stage, Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists left the hall. The situation was later brought under control following intervention by the local police station.
Representatives of the parties involved presented conflicting accounts of the incident. Mehdi Hasan, a member of the Upazila Jamaat executive committee, alleged that the auction for the temporary cattle market had been halted due to collusion involving a section of the administration. In contrast, Abdus Karim, president of the Santhia municipal unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, stated that they attended the auction in response to an official invitation, but Jamaat activists escalated the situation through abusive language and threats.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Riju Tamanna confirmed that no lease for the cattle market has been finalised at this stage. She added that Section 144 had been imposed due to the risk of clashes surrounding the auction process. Under the order, the assembly of more than five people, public meetings, processions, the use of loudspeakers, and carrying of weapons have been prohibited in the area.
Timeline of Events
| Date/Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 19 May | Auction held at Upazila Parishad hall with 26 participants |
| Subsequent period | First suspension of auction due to rising tensions |
| Thursday 9:00 a.m. | Attempt to resume auction; renewed disputes arise |
| Shortly after | BNP activists leave the hall; situation contained by police |
| Thursday 11:00 a.m. | Section 144 imposed by local administration |