Three BNP leaders suspended over attack on Jamaat MP vehicle

Three leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its student wing have been suspended following an attack on the vehicle of Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Masum Mostafa in Netrakona.

The suspended individuals are Ishtiaq Ahmed Babu, joint convener of Purbadhala Upazila BNP, Saju Ahmed, member secretary of the Upazila Chhatra Dal, and former joint convener Solaiman Kabir.

According to party officials, the suspensions were announced through separate notices issued on Sunday. District Chhatra Dal President Anik Mahbub Chowdhury confirmed the action on Monday.

A notice stated that Ishtiaq Ahmed Babu was suspended from all party posts, including primary membership, over allegations of involvement in terrorism, violence and activities contrary to party discipline. The Chhatra Dal central committee said Saju Ahmed was suspended, while Solaiman Kabir was removed from primary membership for breaching organisational discipline.

Party leaders have also been instructed to sever all organisational ties with the three individuals.

The action follows an incident on Friday evening, when the private vehicle of Masum Mostafa, the Member of Parliament for Netrakona-5, was attacked in Purbadhala upazila.

Witnesses said a group of people targeted the vehicle when the lawmaker stopped at Atkapara Petrol Pump on the Birishiri road to refuel. He was reportedly briefly confined during the incident.

Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami alleged that activists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party were involved, claiming the attackers vandalised the vehicle and attempted to assault the lawmaker.