Former MP Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, better known as Nixon Chowdhury, has been accused of disrupting law and order in Faridpur’s Bhanga, through a series of provocative video messages terming the current government and Election Commission “illegal,” police said on Friday night.
In a press release, police headquarters said Nixon’s statements on social media included anti-state remarks, instigating comments against law enforcement, and allegations of harassment of the public—actions that police claim were aimed at provoking people to continue agitation.
According to the release, following the gazette on the redrawing of parliamentary constituencies ahead of the 13th general election, Algi and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga upazila were separated from Faridpur-4 and merged with Faridpur-2. Protesting this decision, locals staged demonstrations, blockades and sit-ins on Dhaka-Khulna, Dhaka-Barishal, and Faridpur-Bhanga highways.
Police alleged that Nixon capitalized on the protests and circulated multiple “inciteful” messages that worsened the situation in Bhanga. In one such video, he called the interim government and the Election Commission “illegal” and instructed his followers to continue demonstrations, even blocking roads until their demands were met. His supporters widely shared the clips online, further fueling unrest.
On September 15, agitators—allegedly loyal to Nixon—attacked Bhanga Police Station, Bhanga Highway Police Station, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s (UNO) office, election office, and agriculture office. Government vehicles were vandalized and torched, causing extensive damage to public property. Legal action was later taken by Bhanga Police Station.
Police said Nixon again released another video on Saturday, repeating his claims that the government and EC were illegal, while lashing out at police on social media. He also alleged that ordinary people were being harassed through false cases, which police said was an attempt to incite further destructive protests.
Law enforcers urged citizens not to be misled by “provocative statements” and to maintain discipline. They assured that no innocent person would be harassed in legal proceedings and requested people to promptly report any attempts to spread rumors or inflammatory content.
Faridpur violence: Case filed against Nixon Chowdhury, 28 others
Earlier on September 15, Bhanga witnessed violent protests over constituency boundary changes, with attacks on police stations, the upazila complex, and municipal office. Motorcycles were set ablaze, while journalists covering the unrest were reportedly obstructed, and several police and media workers were injured.
The Election Commission had issued the gazette on September 4, redrawing Faridpur-4 by detaching Bhanga’s Algi and Hamirdi unions and attaching them to Faridpur-2 constituency.