National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary was allegedly attacked and his vehicle vandalised on the premises of Lalon Akhra in Chheuria under Kumarkhali upazila on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred around 7:15pm, according to police and party sources.
Jamal Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station, said police went to the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control.
Patwary remained confined inside the Akhra for some time following the incident. Police later rescued him and, around 8pm, escorted him to Kumarkhali Police Station with the help of local party activists, where he was expected to file a complaint.
According to NCP sources, Patwary was visiting Kushtia on a personal trip. He first visited Rabindranath Tagore’s Kuthibari in Shilaidah and later went to the Akhra in Chheuria.
While he was watching a musical performance by local artists and livestreaming it on Facebook, he was allegedly attacked and his vehicle was vandalised, the sources said.
Local NCP leaders alleged that the attack and vandalism were carried out under the leadership of Sangram, a member of the Kushtia municipal unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.
Mozakkir Rabbi, convener of Kushtia District Chhatra Dal, however, said the organisation did not believe in “mob-style politics”.
He said if any Chhatra Dal leader or activist was involved in the incident, that individual would be personally responsible for their actions.
NCP Kushtia District Convener Jannatul Ferdous Tony and other local leaders were accompanying Patwary when the incident occurred.
NCP Joint Member Secretary Tarek Reza alleged in a social media post that BNP leaders and activists attacked Patwary.
A video circulating on social media shows several people chasing Patwary and his associates while shouting, “Catch them, catch them”. However, the authenticity of the video and the identities of those seen in it could not be independently verified.
Patwary did not speak to local media about the incident at the time of reporting.