BNP Leader Accused of Assaulting Family in Patuakhali

A senior local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and his associates have been accused of physically assaulting four members of a family, including two women and a child, during an attempt to mediate a domestic dispute in Mirzaganj Upazila, Patuakhali. The victims further alleged that they were initially denied entry to the local police station when attempting to file a formal complaint.

Incident Background and Parties Involved

The conflict originated in Gabua village, located within the Kakrabunia Union of Mirzaganj. It involves a long-standing dispute over “Debottar” (temple) land between two brothers, Shankar Hawlader and Samir Hawlader. According to local sources, Samir Hawlader’s family has resided on the land adjacent to the temple for approximately 40 years.

The primary accused is Mojibur Rahman, who serves as the Vice-President of the Mirzaganj Upazila BNP and is a member of the Kakrabunia Union Parishad. The individuals reported to have sustained injuries during the altercation are detailed in the table below:

Details of the Assault

The escalation occurred on a Friday afternoon when Samir Hawlader’s family attempted to trim the branches of a Rain Tree (locally known as Chambul) situated in front of their residence, which they deemed hazardous. Reports suggest that Shankar Hawlader arrived at the scene accompanied by Mojibur Rahman, his brother Siddiqur Rahman, an associate named Ohab Mia, and several others.

The group allegedly intervened to stop the work, using verbal abuse before resorting to physical violence. Jhilik Hawlader testified that she was severely beaten with a tree branch. She further alleged that when her four-year-old son, Piyas, approached her during the assault, he was kicked by the attackers.

Samir Hawlader stated that Mojibur Rahman acted partially, listening only to Shankar Hawlader’s grievances before initiating the physical attack. Additionally, Samir raised a prior financial grievance, claiming that Mojibur Rahman had previously taken 5,000 BDT from him under the pretext of temple renovations—a task that was never completed. He suggested that this unresolved issue might have contributed to the leader’s hostility.

Official Responses

Mojibur Rahman has denied all allegations of assault. He maintained that he was invited to mediate the dispute and claimed that a clash was already underway between the two family factions upon his arrival. He asserted that he and his associates did not participate in the violence and that injuries occurred during the mutual confrontation.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mirzaganj Police Station, Abdus Salam, refuted the claim that the victims were barred from the station. He stated that the authorities were aware of the incident through local informants and had advised the family to seek medical treatment before submitting a formal written complaint. The OC confirmed that necessary legal action would be pursued once an official statement is recorded. Currently, Shankar Hawlader and his family members remain in hiding, leaving their side of the narrative unverified.