Jhenaidah-4: Independent Candidate’s Activists Ambushed by BNP Loyalists

Tensions within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have escalated into physical violence in the Jhenaidah-4 constituency, as supporters of a rebel independent candidate were allegedly ambushed by loyalists of the party’s official nominee. The incident, which occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, 22 January 2026, has cast a shadow over the lead-up to the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

The Ambush at Ramchandrapur

The violence broke out around 2:30 pm at Ramchandrapur Bazar in Kaliganj Upazila. Witnesses report that supporters of independent candidate Saiful Islam Firoz were travelling to attend his debut election rally at the Bhushan School grounds when they were intercepted.

According to victims and local sources, the attackers—allegedly linked to the official BNP candidate, Rashed Khan—launched an unprovoked assault. Two individuals were seriously injured in the fray: Anwar Hossain Kalu, whose both hands and left leg were reportedly broken, and Shahidul Islam. Both men are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Candidate Profile: The Battle for Jhenaidah-4

A House Divided

The conflict in Jhenaidah-4 is rooted in a bitter nomination dispute. Saiful Islam Firoz, a senior leader of the Central Sechchhasebak Dal, was a frontrunner for the BNP ticket. However, the party high command chose to nominate Rashed Khan, a move that sparked immediate protests among local activists.

Refusing to back down, Firoz entered the race as an independent under the “Cup and Plate” symbol. In response, the BNP leadership expelled him from his party posts, citing a violation of organisational discipline. Speaking after the attack, Firoz lamented the state of the campaign: “My supporters were peacefully heading to a rally when they were brutally attacked. This is an attempt to silence the local voice through fear.”

Denial and Police Response

Responding to the accusations, Rashed Khan denied any involvement. “I am unaware of such an incident,” he stated. “I cannot confirm if any of my workers were involved, but I will look into the matter.”

Jellal Hossain, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kaliganj Police Station, confirmed that police reached the scene shortly after the report. While he noted that the situation is currently under control, he emphasised that formal legal action would only follow the filing of an official complaint.

As the 12 February polling day approaches, the Jhenaidah-4 seat remains a “red zone” for the Election Commission, with internal party feuds posing as much of a threat to stability as inter-party rivalry.