Midnight protest erupts in Brahmanbaria over Hasnat’s remarks

A protest march was held in Brahmanbaria late Friday night (August 28) against remarks made by National Citizens Party (NCP) Leader and Cumilla-4 Lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah in Parliament regarding the suspension of cultural programmes, including concerts and boat races.

The protest was organised by the Qaumi Students Unity Council, with around 150-200 people joining the march.

It began at about 11:45pm from Jamia Yunusia Madrasa, passed through several parts of the town and ended with a rally in front of the Brahmanbaria Press Club.

Speakers at the rally criticised Hasnat’s remarks and demanded that he apologise for his comments about the recent incidents in Brahmanbaria.

They also accused him of unfairly blaming Islam and religious scholars and demanded a public apology from the lawmaker to the people of Brahmanbaria.

The protesters warned that if Hasnat did not apologise, they would not allow the NCP’s scheduled organisational coordination meeting and political workshop at the Brahmanbaria Shilpakala Academy on Saturday.

The NCP is scheduled to hold an organisational meeting and political workshop at Brahmanbaria Shilpakala Academy at 4pm on Saturday.

The protest followed Hasnat’s remarks in Parliament on Thursday, when he raised the suspension of cultural programmes at police lines in Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria, as well as the discontinuation of boat races.

He criticised the government for failing to take effective steps to address the issue.

The remarks subsequently drew discussion and criticism on social media, prompting Friday night’s protest in Brahmanbaria.

Mohammad Shahidul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station, said, "Police were present during the protest and that no untoward incident was reported."