Jamaat Leader Stabbed in Pabna, BNP Faces Counter-March

A senior leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, Ramzan Ali, was reportedly attacked and seriously injured by unidentified assailants in Pabna’s Char Shibrampur area of Himaithpur Union on Saturday night. The incident has triggered heightened political tensions in the district, with both Jamaat and BNP staging separate protest marches in response.

According to Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP activists were responsible for the assault on Ramzan Ali. In protest, the party’s supporters organised a demonstration on Sunday morning, marching through the main streets of Pabna town before staging a sit-in outside the district administration office. Party officials blamed BNP for the attack and demanded immediate action against the alleged perpetrators.

Ramzan Ali, a decorated Freedom Fighter, serves as the president of Jamaat’s 9th Ward in Himaithpur and as the director of the Char Shibrampur polling centre. Eyewitnesses report that after completing a night prayer at a local mosque following election campaigning, he was suddenly set upon by a group of unidentified individuals who beat and stabbed him. He was subsequently rushed to Pabna General Hospital in critical condition.

The protest march organised by Jamaat-e-Islami began at Shahid Chattar at 11:00 am, proceeding along the principal roads of Pabna town before reaching the district commissioner’s office. Key speakers at the event included Abdul Latif, Amir of Pabna Municipal Jamaat; Rezaul Karim, President of the Workers’ Welfare Federation; Hafez Abu Musa, Secretary for Arts and Culture; and Ibrahim Khalil Ainul, Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami in Sadar Upazila.

In a parallel response, BNP activists also conducted a protest march through the town, culminating at Pabna Press Club, where they held a press conference to reject Jamaat’s accusations. Speaking at the event, District BNP Member-Secretary Masud Khandakar stated:
“Jamaat is spreading false claims over an isolated incident. We too are concerned that a Freedom Fighter was attacked. However, no BNP leader or activist is involved. The matter appears to be related to family and land disputes. We strongly condemn these false allegations.”

Meanwhile, Pabna Sadar Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Dulal Hossain, confirmed that an official investigation is underway. “We are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident. Appropriate legal action will be taken if any evidence emerges,” he said.

The incident has further heightened political tensions in Pabna ahead of the upcoming elections, reflecting the intersection of local political rivalries and personal disputes.

Summary of Incident:

This violent episode underscores the fragile political climate in Pabna, where election campaigning, local rivalries, and personal disputes can rapidly escalate into public demonstrations and counter-demonstrations. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent further unrest.