NCP denied permission to hold programme at Shilpakala, venue changed

Although tensions in Brahmanbaria over the remarks of Member of Parliament and National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah have eased, the party's scheduled programme has been relocated. The NCP changed its venue after being denied permission to hold its organisational coordination meeting and political workshop at the district Shilpakala Academy.

The NCP's Brahmanbaria district committee was scheduled to hold its coordination meeting and political workshop at the Shilpakala Academy auditorium at 4pm on Saturday (August 29). However, the district administration said the Shilpakala Academy is not a venue for political events and therefore declined permission for the programme.

Instead, the party was permitted to hold the event at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Language Square.

Earlier, madrasa students under the banner of the Qawmi Student Unity Council had protested on Friday midnight against Hasnat Abdullah's parliamentary remarks on Brahmanbaria. They had announced that they would resist the NCP programme unless Hasnat expressed regret.

Amid the situation, Hasnat Abdullah expressed regret in a social media post on Saturday morning over the misunderstanding with the people of Brahmanbaria. The Qawmi Student Unity Council later announced the withdrawal of their scheduled programme around noon.

Abdul Khalek, a member of the convening committee of the Brahmanbaria Qawmi Student Unity Council, said they had withdrawn their programme following Hasnat Abdullah's apology and that the NCP programme would face no obstacle from them.

However, despite this, the NCP was not granted permission to hold its event at the Shilpakala Academy. Deputy Commissioner Md Abu Sayeed said the NCP had initially informed the administration that they would hold a private event at Shilpakala, but it was later revealed to be a political rally. Since Shilpakala Academy cannot be used for political events, permission was not granted.

NCP Brahmanbaria District Convener Jahangir Alam said discussions have been held with the Qawmi Student Unity Council to resolve the issue. Further decisions will be taken after consultations with central leaders.