“Nasiruddin Patwari trapped at the mouth of the cannon, rescued by the army.”

During a visit to the Railway Colony High School polling station in Dhaka-8, Naseeruddin Patwary, candidate of the 11-party alliance and leader of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), encountered a threatening situation that escalated into an attack. The incident occurred on Thursday, 12 February, at around 12:00 pm, when Patwary was addressing journalists at the polling centre.

According to Patwary, supporters of Mirza Abbas began shouting “fake, fake” slogans during his speech. Tensions quickly escalated as some individuals allegedly chased him, prompting an attack on the candidate.

The situation was rapidly brought under control by the Bangladesh Army, who intervened and ensured Patwary was safely evacuated from the chaotic scene. Law enforcement personnel secured the area, preventing further escalation of violence.

Following the incident, Patwary took to Facebook to allege that the attack was part of an attempt to rig the polls. In his post, he claimed that Abbas’s supporters were engaging in vote theft and that, after he entered the polling station, BNP activists attacked him in the presence of election officials.

Patwary condemned the violence in his statement and called for immediate action. He urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and guarantee the safety of voters at all polling centres.

At the time of reporting, neither Mirza Abbas nor his representatives had responded to the allegations. Election officials and security personnel are yet to provide an official statement on the incident.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding election-day security and voter intimidation in Dhaka-8, where tensions between rival political factions have occasionally led to confrontations in previous elections.

Incident Summary – Dhaka-8, 12 February 2026

This episode has intensified scrutiny over polling station safety, raising questions about measures to protect candidates and voters during the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. Observers are urging authorities to take swift action to prevent further disturbances as voting continues across the constituency.