BNP Supporters Block Roads in Demanding Candidate Change

Supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) staged protests and blocked roads in Hathazari, Chattogram, on Friday afternoon, demanding a change in the party’s nominated candidate. The demonstrations took place along the Oxygen–Khagrachhari road, particularly at Chowdhurihat and Sarkarhat, causing severe disruption to local traffic for nearly an hour.

Eyewitnesses and police sources reported that a segment of BNP activists, led by followers of party adviser S.M. Fazlul Haque, were prevented from attending a pre-planned rally. In protest, they sat on the road, blocking movement towards the town. Officers eventually intervened to restore order.

The controversy surrounds the nomination for Chattogram-5 (Hathazari) constituency. The party had officially declared Mir Mohammad Helal, the divisional co-secretary of BNP in Chattogram, as its candidate. However, supporters of S.M. Fazlul Haque insisted that their leader, who has historically supported party workers during difficult times, should be nominated instead.

The rally, held in front of Fateyabad School, was presided over by former Hathazari Upazila BNP general secretary Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury. Speakers included Ilias Ali, co-vice president of the North District BNP Youth, Mirza Shahidullah Babul, Jaker Hossain, Mir Kashem, Sirajul Islam, Kazi Mohsin and Md Khairunnabi.

According to the protesters, activists coming from northern Hathazari, including Sarkarhat and Mirzapur, were obstructed at Mirerhat by supporters of Mir Helal, leading to vandalism of eight vehicles and injuries to over a hundred people.

Mir Helal dismissed the allegations, saying, “Anyone can make demands, but my supporters did not assault or block anyone. These claims are baseless.” Additional Superintendent of Police (Hathazari Circle), Kazi Md. Tarek Aziz, confirmed that the road obstruction lasted about an hour before police restored normal traffic, and the situation has since remained calm.

The incident underscores ongoing tensions within the BNP over candidate selection, highlighting internal party disputes that could impact the upcoming elections and local stability.