Rumeen Farhana, the newly elected independent Member of Parliament from Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, has cautioned the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to rein in its grassroots leaders and activists following an incident that prevented her from paying tribute at the Shaheed Minar in Sarail early Saturday.
Describing the episode as deliberate and coordinated, the lawmaker said she had gone to the Shaheed Minar in line with official protocol to lay wreaths in honour of the Language Movement martyrs.
However, she alleged that local BNP leaders and activists obstructed her and created a hostile situation at the site.
Rumeen Farhana claimed the disruption was pre-planned and intended to prevent her from carrying out her official duty.
“If the BNP fails to control its local-level leaders and activists, the consequences will be severe,” she warned, stressing that such actions undermine democratic norms and respect for national commemorations.
According to local reports, the tense situation forced Rumeen Farhana to leave the premises without placing flowers.
The incident later sparked unrest in the area.
Around 12:30 am on Saturday, her supporters reportedly blocked the busy Dhaka–Sylhet highway in Shahbazpur area of Sarail Upazila of Brahmanbaria. They set fire to tree logs and bamboo poles on the road, bringing traffic to a halt.
The blockade resulted in severe congestion, with vehicles stranded for nearly 10 kilometres on both sides of the highway. Commuters faced significant inconvenience during the hours-long disruption.
Police rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the blockade.
Law enforcement personnel then worked to clear the highway and restore normal traffic movement.
Authorities later confirmed that the situation was brought under control.
The incident has heightened political tensions in the constituency, drawing attention to the need for restraint and dialogue among rival groups.
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