The local administration in Alfadanga Upazila, Faridpur, has imposed Section 144 today, Saturday (29 November), from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, following announcements of simultaneous rallies by two rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate Russell Iqbal stated that the restrictive measures were implemented to maintain law and order and ensure public safety within the municipality.
According to administrative and local sources, both factions scheduled their respective programmes at the Alfadanga Asaduzzaman Pilot High School grounds. One group is led by Khandaker Nasirul Islam Nasir, a central Vice President of Krishak Dal and a parliamentary hopeful for the Faridpur-1 constituency, while the opposing group is aligned with Shamsuddin Ahmed, also known as Jhunu. The conflicting schedules triggered immediate tension in the area, prompting the authorities to prohibit gatherings of five or more people, demonstrations, and the carrying of any offensive weapons or explosives.
This administrative intervention is a direct response to the escalating internal feud within the local BNP. Previously, on 7 November, during a rally marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day, violent clashes erupted between these two groups in the neighbouring Boalmari area. During that incident, Minajur Rahman Lipon, a municipal councillor and convener of the Upazila Jubo Dal from the Jhunu faction, sustained critical injuries. Although Khandaker Nasir was named as the primary accused in the subsequent legal case, the police have yet to make any arrests, leading to further resentment and the current standoff.
Md. Shahjalal Alam, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Alfadanga Police Station, confirmed that additional police personnel have been deployed at key intersections and around the designated rally venue to enforce the restrictions. The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police have been briefed on the security measures. While no untoward incidents have been reported since the issuance of the order, the atmosphere remains noticeably tense, with residents avoiding the streets. Legal experts suggest that such internal friction could hinder the party’s local organisational activities if not resolved through central mediation.
GLIVE/TSN