Tragic Death of Young BNP Activist in Chattogram

A day of political fervour in Chattogram turned to mourning on Sunday following the sudden death of a teenage activist during a high-profile election rally. Saidul Islam Chishti, 14, a dedicated member of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD)—the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—collapsed and died while documenting a procession for the party’s chairman, Tarique Rahman.

Fatal Collapse During the Procession

The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 am near the ‘Hall 24’ venue, adjacent to the stadium in the Kotwali area. As JCD activists gathered outside the Hotel Radisson Blu to welcome Tarique Rahman, a large procession began moving towards the Pologround Maidan, the primary site of the rally.

Witnesses report that Chishti, an eighth-grade pupil at Oxford Modern School, was walking backwards at the front of the march, using his mobile phone to film the spirited crowd. Abu Sultan Sunny, Member Secretary of the Kotwali Thana Chhatra Dal, noted that after the procession had advanced barely 200 yards, the teenager suddenly spun around and collapsed onto the tarmac. He was rushed to the nearby National Hospital, where attending physicians tragically pronounced him dead on arrival, citing a suspected cardiac arrest or stroke.

Casualty and Incident Summary

A Community in Mourning

Chishti was the only son of Nazrul Islam Babu, a well-known former footballer residing in the Enayet Bazar area. His death has cast a shadow over the BNP’s local electoral activities, with party leaders expressing deep shock at the loss of such a young and enthusiastic volunteer.

The physical toll of the massive gathering extended beyond this tragedy. At the Pologround Maidan, where tens of thousands had converged to hear the party chairman speak, the sheer density of the crowd led to several injuries. Sub-Inspector Alauddin Talukdar of the Chattogram Medical College (CMCH) Police Outpost confirmed that two individuals, Md. Rakib and Md. Jasim, were brought to the emergency department around 1:00 pm. Both sustained injuries after being crushed in the crowd surge and have been admitted for observation.

Safety Concerns Amid Political Rallies

The events in Chattogram highlight the significant logistical and health risks associated with large-scale political mobilisations in Bangladesh’s urban centres. With the 2026 electoral cycle in full swing, authorities and party organisers are under increasing pressure to ensure better crowd management and emergency medical access. For the family of young Chishti, however, the day remains a devastating reminder of the personal costs that can arise during the height of political passion.