Muradnagar BNP activists jailed following controversial court orders have sparked political unrest across Comilla’s Muradnagar upazila. A total of 13 leaders and activists from the BNP and its affiliated wings were sent to jail after the district court rejected their bail plea in two politically sensitive cases.
The cases were filed in connection with an alleged attack on Muradnagar Police Station and on student coordinator Obaidul Haque. Police and a cousin of Prime Minister’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib filed the cases, accusing 32 named BNP members, including the upazila convener, and another 70 to 80 unidentified individuals.
Six BNP activists had previously been arrested and released on bail, while the others had secured anticipatory bail from the High Court. However, on June 27, Acting District and Sessions Judge Abeda Khatun denied bail to 13 of them, ordering their imprisonment.
Reacting strongly, BNP joint convener Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan said, “Adviser Asif Mahmud is jailing our activists with false cases to clear his path to becoming an MP.” He further alleged that, “Just days ago, the same adviser secured the release of ruling party chairman Iqbal Bahar from the police station, yet sends BNP members to jail on fabricated charges.”
Kamal Uddin added, “In Muradnagar, Awami League activists roam freely while BNP members are jailed without justice. If our activists are not released immediately, a movement will begin from Muradnagar and end in Dhaka.”
As the court sent them to prison, two leaders – Ruhul Amin Tuhin, BNP president of Nabipur East Union, and Helal Uddin, joint convener of the upazila volunteer wing – fell ill. Helal was later transferred to Comilla General Hospital under police custody.
The arrests have drawn strong condemnation across Muradnagar, with locals accusing the police and Obaidul of orchestrating politically motivated and baseless charges.
With Muradnagar BNP activists jailed under questionable circumstances, the opposition warns of an impending political storm unless justice is served.
