Tensions flared in Rangpur as the Bangladesh Army took a firm stand against vandalism and mob violence following an attack on the residence of Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader.
In a midnight interrogation on Saturday, May 31, Brigadier General Humayun Qayyum, commander of the 72nd Infantry Brigade, delivered a stern warning to political leaders: there is no place for sabotage in the name of mob action.
The confrontation stemmed from a violent incident on Thursday, May 29, when assailants attacked and vandalised Quader’s ‘The Sky View’ residence in Senpara at around 8:45pm.
The assault triggered a clash between members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, National Citizen Party (NCP), and Jatiya Party, with chasing each other erupting in the streets. Quader was present at his home during the attack, amplifying the gravity of the situation.
In response, the army summoned leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for questioning at Payra Chattar intersection around 12:30am on Saturday.
Sarjis Alam, NCP’s chief organiser for the northern region, arrived at the scene in the pouring rain to engage with Brigadier General Qayyum. The interrogation, which also involved local BNP leaders, extended until 2:00 AM.
Qayyum laid down a clear message to Sarjis: “As long as there is blood in our veins, we will not tolerate actions against the nation. Those who cause public inconvenience, commit vandalism, or set fire to homes in the name of mobs will face consequences. This must stop now.”
The incident has exposed deep political fault lines in Rangpur. Sarjis, speaking to reporters after the army’s questioning, accused the Jatiya Party of acting as the “B team” of the now-banned Awami League. He criticised Quader’s recent activities in Rangpur, including protests against the reinstatement of former Jatiya Party mayor Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, which he claimed created an “uncomfortable atmosphere.”
“The Jatiya Party legitimised the Awami League’s actions as a dummy opposition during the 2024 coup,” Sarjis said. “They negotiated with the government while BNP, Jamaat, and NCP fought against fascism, facing false cases, disappearances, and harassment. The Jatiya Party should face the same consequences as the Awami League.”
Sarjis demanded an investigation into the Jatiya Party’s role in recent unrest and questioned why the party has not been banned alongside the Awami League.
He insisted that any legal action, including arrests, should target Jatiya Party members first, dismissing claims that the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement or NCP incited the violence. “If bikes were burned, it was not our doing,” he said, pointing to external provocateurs.
At around 11:30pm on Saturday, GM Quader, alongside Co-Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa and 18 other Jatiya Party leaders and activists, filed a complaint at Kotwali Police Station, naming Alamgir Rahman Nayan, Rangpur district organiser of the NCP, in connection with the attack.
Brigadier General Qayyum’s intervention underscores the army’s pivotal role in stabilising Bangladesh’s law and order situation post-2024 coup.
Sarjis acknowledged this contribution, noting, “The Bangladesh Army has ensured a level of stability we haven’t seen in Rangpur before.” However, he urged the army to conduct investigations during regular hours rather than late-night summons, emphasizing the need for transparency and cooperation.