AB Party’s Fuaad confronted by protesters in Barishal

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad, general secretary of Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, faced protest in Barishal from a section of locals and activists during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Mirganj Bridge in the Barishal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi) constituency this afternoon.

The incident occurred around 2:00pm at a programme held on the bank of Arial Kha river along the Rahmatpur–Babuganj–Muladi–Hizla road.

Witnesses said a group, identified locally as a faction of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), surrounded Fuaad and shouted "bhua, bhua".

As tension escalated, Fuaad left in his car.

Locals said the protest stemmed from allegations made by Fuaad on "extortion" demanded by some residents of the area.

Atiqur Rahman Al-Amin, convener of the Babuganj unit of JCD, denied organisational involvement, saying, "He [Fuaad] falsely accused locals of extortion. We, as ordinary residents, protested. This had nothing to do with JCD or BNP."

However, Rabbi, who accompanied Fuaad, alleged that BNP and JCD activists, including Rajon Sikder, member secretary of Rahmatpur union BNP; Atiq Al-Amin, president of Babuganj unit of JCD; and Ferdous, president of Rahmatpur union of JCD, were involved in the incident.

Babuganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ehteshamul Islam confirmed the incident. "There was no physical altercation. Police were present. No complaint has been filed," he said.

In a statement, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju and Joint General Secretary Barrister Zobayer Ahmed Bhuiyan strongly condemned what they described as an "attempted attack and harassment" of Fuaad by "BNP-linked" miscreants.

They alleged that a group had earlier demanded money from the bridge contractor and later issued threats. "When Barrister Fuaad spoke out against this, they shamelessly attacked him," the statement read.

The party demanded immediate arrests of those involved and urged authorities to ensure rule of law and peaceful political environment.