A public representative in Bangladesh’s central district of Faridpur has drawn severe scrutiny after video footage surfaced on social media depicting him allegedly encouraging his followers to manufacture weapons and promising protection if a murder occurred.
The politician at the centre of the controversy is Rafiqul Islam, popularly known as Rafiq Mullah, the Chairman of Yadunandi Union Parishad under Saltha Upazila. The recording, which reportedly stems from a local gathering held at the Wazirpur market area, began circulating widely on Tuesday. In the footage, the chairman is allegedly heard telling attendees: “Make weapons; if a murder takes place, I will take care of it.” While the clip has generated substantial public friction across the region, the broader context of the meeting and the full, unedited recording could not be independently verified.
Responding to the allegations, Chairman Rafiqul Islam rejected the claims entirely, asserting that he made no such statements. He maintained that the social media clip was either selectively edited, manipulated, or taken out of context to defame him. With local administrative elections approaching, Islam attributed the footage to a deliberate smear campaign orchestrated by his political rivals seeking to undermine his standing.
To illustrate his commitment to peaceful governance, Islam cited a recent violent dispute involving a local supporter. According to the chairman, opposition supporters physically assaulted a van driver affiliated with his political faction and seized the driver’s vehicle. Rather than mobilizing his followers to launch a counter-attack or reclaim the vehicle by force, Islam insisted he chose to seek police intervention through official channels to prevent localized unrest. He stated that maintaining public safety and avoiding major communal clashes remains his primary priority.
Local law enforcement authorities have approached the issue with caution. Bablur Rahman Khan, Officer-in-Charge of Saltha Police Station, indicated that he had not been previously briefed on the recording but confirmed that officers would investigate whether the chairman made any such incendiary statements during recent public meetings.
Rural politics in Saltha Upazila has long been fraught with intense factional rivalries, where local disputes can rapidly escalate into armed altercations featuring traditional sharp weapons and bamboo sticks. Given the gravity of the accusations—involving the potential incitement of violence and illegal arms fabrication—police face growing calls to analyze the complete audio-visual recording, gather statements from meeting attendees, and determine whether formal legal proceedings are warranted.
