Scuffle at Pabna mosque over Friday prayer led by Nizami's son

A scuffle broke out between supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami at a mosque in Pabna's Sathia upazila over Friday prayers being led by Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen, the son of convicted war criminal Matiur Rahman Nizami and a Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker.

The incident took place before Friday prayers at the Aftabnagar Bazar Jame Mosque in Sathia municipality.

Police later intervened to bring the situation under control, and the prayers were ultimately led by the mosque's regular imam.

According to police and local sources, tensions arose when Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen stepped forward to lead the congregation.

BNP supporters objected, leading to a heated exchange that escalated into pushing and shoving inside the mosque.

Sathia Municipal BNP President Md Karim alleged that Momen had attempted to lead the prayers to assert his party's influence. He claimed that after delivering remarks over the mosque's microphone before the khutbah and announcing that he would lead the prayer, local worshippers protested. He further alleged that activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir and the National Citizen Party (NCP) then assaulted the protesters, triggering the confrontation.

Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen denied the allegations, saying he had gone to the mosque at the request of local worshippers. He accused BNP activists of deliberately creating disorder inside the mosque. He also alleged that, after the prayers, his supporters were attacked and a nearby shop was vandalised and looted.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) Anisur Rahman of Sathia Police Station said police had been deployed at the mosque in advance due to concerns over possible tensions. Despite the security measures, a verbal altercation and minor scuffle broke out before the prayers. He said the situation was quickly brought under control.