NCP's motorcade comes under attack in Sylhet's Golapganj

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has alleged that its motorcade came under attack in Golapganj of Sylhet, just two days after a similar incident in Habiganj, intensifying political tensions surrounding the party's ongoing "July Padayatra" programme.

According to party leaders and eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred around 2:30pm on Thursday near the Golapganj Municipality Gate after NCP leaders concluded a meeting with families of July martyrs at the Golapganj Upazila Auditorium.

The party claimed its convoy was attacked shortly after leaving the venue. NCP alleged that local BNP activists were behind the assault, accusing them of vandalising vehicles and attacking party members.

At 2:42pm, NCP's Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam addressed the incident in a Facebook post, alleging that BNP activists carried out a "violent attack" on the convoy, leaving vehicles damaged and several people injured.

The latest allegation comes on the heels of an attack on NCP leaders during the party's July Padayatra in Habiganj on Tuesday, where the motorcade carrying Sarjis Alam and NCP Convener Nasiruddin Patwari was reportedly targeted. Several party activists and journalists were injured in that incident.

Local BNP leaders, however, rejected the allegations and denied any involvement in the Habiganj attack.

NCP also alleged that police prevented its leaders and activists from entering Habiganj town on Thursday following the earlier violence.

Amid rising political tension, authorities had already stepped up security ahead of NCP's scheduled programmes in Golapganj, Kanaighat and Osmaninagar.

At the request of the district administration, five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed across parts of Sylhet for Thursday and Friday's programmes.

Sylhet Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Zakir Hossain confirmed the deployment, saying the additional security measures were taken to help maintain law and order during the political events.

The alleged attack has further escalated tensions between the two political parties, with law enforcement maintaining heightened vigilance across the district.