A tense confrontation erupted at the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) on Saturday, 17 January, involving prominent political figures Abdul Awal Mintu, the BNP candidate for Feni-3, and Abul Hasnat Abdullah, the NCP candidate for Comilla-4. The incident occurred during a hearing concerning dual citizenship issues, highlighting the volatile atmosphere surrounding the upcoming national elections.
The confrontation took place in the EC headquarters while a panel was hearing an appeal against the validity of the nomination papers of Afroza Khanam, the Dhanshish candidate for Manikganj-3. After legal representatives presented their arguments, the Commission suspended the hearing for half an hour. Following the adjournment, disputes broke out among the lawyers, and Abdul Awal Mintu openly expressed his dissatisfaction towards the opposing party. This provoked a reaction from Hasnat Abdullah, who was present in the auditorium for a separate hearing, leading to a heated verbal clash between the two candidates.
At one point, Mintu was escorted from the Commission premises by his son, Tabith Awal, while security personnel intervened to restore order.
Once the hearing resumed, Hasnat Abdullah lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that Mintu had used offensive language, reportedly calling him a “bloody citizen” and attempting to use physical intimidation. Abdullah requested an official ruling from the EC regarding the matter.
Speaking to the media, Hasnat Abdullah criticised the behaviour of political elites, saying, “Those who come to flaunt elitism should leave their political elitism behind before entering. You cannot call someone a ‘bloody citizen’ and still expect their vote.” He further alleged that Mintu, alongside elite networks affiliated with the ruling party, had maintained business interests through questionable means abroad. Abdullah expressed concern about the safety of candidates in future hearings, describing the incident in front of the EC as “unacceptable.”
The following table summarises the key details of the candidates involved in the confrontation:
| Candidate Name | Political Party | Constituency | Incident Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul Awal Mintu | BNP | Feni-3 | Engaged in verbal clash; escorted out by family; accused of offensive language |
| Abul Hasnat Abdullah | NCP | Comilla-4 | Responded to confrontation; filed formal complaint with EC |
| Afroza Khanam | Dhanshish | Manikganj-3 | Nomination under appeal at time of incident |
The episode has raised questions about candidate safety and the management of hearings by the Election Commission. While EC officials described the incident as an isolated event, political observers and legal representatives warned that such confrontations could undermine the credibility and security of the election process if left unaddressed.