Former MP Assaulted Following Allegations of Electoral Betrayal

A volatile atmosphere descended upon the Phulpur Upazila of Mymensingh on Saturday afternoon as the vehicle of Abul Bashar Akand, a former Member of Parliament for the Mymensingh-2 (Phulpur-Tarakanda) constituency, was intercepted and vandalised. The attack, which left the politician’s driver injured, is widely believed to be a violent manifestation of internal party grievances following the recent general election.

The Incident at Balia Mor

The confrontation occurred at approximately 4:30 pm in the Balia Mor area. Mr Akand, a former Upazila Chairman and current Vice President of the central Krishak Dal committee, had arrived at the scene to inspect a local warehouse that had been ravaged by fire earlier that day.

According to eyewitnesses and police reports, a faction of disgruntled activists launched a coordinated assault on Mr Akand’s motorcade. The assailants shattered the vehicle’s windows and assaulted the driver, identified as Mohammad Arman. When local police attempted to extract the former MP from the escalating chaos, supporters of Mr Akand clashed with the opposing faction, briefly blockading the Haluaghat-Mymensingh regional highway before law enforcement restored order.

Roots of the Conflict: Electoral Discord

The violence appears to be rooted in the perceived “anti-party” activities of Mr Akand during the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Having failed to secure the party nomination himself, local activists allege that Mr Akand not only abstained from campaigning for the official BNP candidate, Motahar Hossain Talukdar, but actively conspired against him.

In a surprising result for the constituency, the “Sheaf of Paddy” (the BNP’s electoral symbol) suffered a defeat at the hands of the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish candidate from the 11-party alliance.

Accusations and Counter-Claims

Mr Akand has pointed the finger at specific local leaders, naming Wahedduzzaman Mithun and Emran Hasan Pallab of the Jubo Dal as the instigators. “I went to see the fire-damaged warehouse, and they attacked my car and driver without provocation,” he stated, claiming ignorance regarding the motive.

Conversely, Mr Mithun refuted the allegations of personal animosity, framing the incident as a spontaneous outburst of public anger. “The former MP did not work for the Sheaf of Paddy; instead, he supported the ‘Rickshaw’ symbol,” Mithun told reporters. “He has committed many injustices against the party, and the youth were simply reacting to his betrayal. I actually went there to stop the vandalism, yet he is unjustly blaming me.”

The Officer-in-Charge of Phulpur Police Station, Mohammad Rashedul Hasan, confirmed that the situation is now under control but noted that the investigation into the “defeated candidate’s disgruntled supporters” is ongoing.