Hasnat faces protests over visit to ex-CCC mayor Manjur’s house

Hasnat Abdullah, a Member of Parliament from Cumilla-4 and a leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), faced protests and a blockade by local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists on Tuesday noon when he visited the residence of former Chattogram City Mayor M Manjur Alam.

He remained confined inside the house for nearly an hour before leaving with police assistance.

Hasnat Abdullah arrived at the residence in two vehicles, and news of his presence quickly spread. Shortly afterward, BNP leaders and activists gathered at the site, staging a demonstration and surrounding the main gate.

Eyewitnesses said tensions escalated as protesters effectively blocked him inside the residence, creating unrest in the surrounding area.

During the blockade, protesters questioned Hasnat Abdullah about his visit, asking why he had come to meet someone they described as an associate of a “dictatorship.” They also demanded clarification regarding his presence at what they claimed was a house linked to an Awami League figure. Demonstrators chanted slogans warning “agents of the Awami League” to be cautious.

As the situation became increasingly tense, police arrived and brought it under control. Hasnat Abdullah briefly addressed the protesters before leaving the area under police protection.

Although tensions lingered for some time after the incident, the situation eventually returned to normal.

Notably, Manjur Alam is a former mayor of Chattogram City Corporation. Throughout his political career, he has been associated with both Awami League and BNP politics. He was elected mayor in the 2010 city corporation election as a BNP-backed candidate and later served as an adviser to the BNP chairperson. In recent years, he has also been seen participating in various Awami League programmes.