Published: July 15, 2025, 01:45 AM
The protest took place on Monday at BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka, following controversial slogans against Tarique Rahman amid the public murder of a businessman in Old Dhaka. After the rally, participants marched, chanting slogans highlighting Jamaat’s role during the Liberation War.
Around 5:30 pm, the march stopped in front of Kakrail Mosque where slogans were raised, “Jamaat-Shibir are collaborators, leave Bengal now.”
Passersby watched the procession with curiosity.
From 1999 until mid-2022, BNP and Jamaat had a political alliance. However, since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, the two parties have been openly attacking each other.
Jamaat has accused BNP of occupation and extortion, while BNP criticises Jamaat for its anti-Liberation War stance.
After the gathering in Nayapaltan, anti-Jamaat slogans continued from the student wings of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South BNP as they marched towards Bijoynagar, Press Club, and Shahbagh. The student group held a separate rally at Shahbagh later.
Reason for the protest
On 9 July in Mitford, businessman Sohag, also known as Lal Chand, was publicly beaten and killed.
Following initial evidence linking BNP’s three allied organisations - Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Swechhasebak Dal - five leaders were expelled.
After the incident, Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Islami Andolon, and others accused BNP of extortion and land grabbing.
Protests blaming Tarique Rahman for Sohag’s murder took place in Dhaka and across the country. The language of slogans used in these protests has drawn criticism from social and political circles.
BNP and its allied groups claim Jamaat-Shibir is responsible for the objectionable slogans against Tarique.
‘Hidden political manoeuvres backed by the government’
At the Shahbagh rally, Chhatra Dal central president Rakibul Islam Rakib said, “Under the direct and indirect patronage of the caretaker government, secret politics is ongoing in the country.”
He warned that if mob rule is established and law and order does not improve, Chhatra Dal will take to the streets against the caretaker government.
Rakib added, “When questions arise about this government in a few years, and when questions on mob rule come before the nation, the current government will bear the responsibility.”
Alongside central leaders of Chhatra Dal, student activists from Dhaka University, Dhaka Metropolitan units, various universities, colleges, and police station units attended the programme.
