The convoy of National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders came under two stone-pelting attacks in Sylhet's Golapganj upazila today, leaving the windows of several vehicles damaged, police said.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
The attacks took place while NCP Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam and other party leaders were visiting Golapganj to meet the families of seven people martyred during the July Uprising.
Security personnel had been deployed from around 11:00am at Choumuhani intersection and other key points in the upazila, centring the NCP programme.
NCP activists gathered at the venue alongside leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal.
According to witnesses, when the NCP convoy arrived at Golapganj around 1:00pm for a meeting at the Municipality Hall, some groups chanted "Bhua, bhua". They repeated the slogans as the convoy left the venue around 2:30pm for Kanaighat upazila, when the first stone-pelting incident took place.
"Overall security was ensured, but still a stone was thrown. It broke the glass of a vehicle, but no one was injured. We are escorting the NCP convoy to Kanaighat upazila under tight security," said Shah Alam, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of Golapganj Circle.
Following the incident, Sarjis Alam alleged in a Facebook post that BNP activists were responsible.
"BNP's terrorists have again carried out a bloody attack on our vehicles in Golapganj, Sylhet. They vandalised the vehicle," he wrote.
Around 3:00pm, the convoy faced another obstruction at Panchmile Bazar in the upazila, where another attempt was made to attack it.
At 3:13pm, Sarjis wrote in another Facebook post, referring to Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, "For the second time, BNP's terrorists have attacked us again at Panchmile Bazar in Sylhet. Does Tarique Rahman want to become Sheikh Hasina?"
ASP Shah Alam said the convoy was obstructed while travelling to a house in Panchmile Bazar, where the NCP leaders were scheduled to have lunch.
He said the convoy later turned back and proceeded towards Kanaighat upazila under police escort.
Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun said, "There were two isolated incidents of stone-pelting on the convoy on the road. All steps have been taken for the overall security of the convoy of NCP leaders. Along with adequate police, the BGB is also on standby. Both the programmes ended peacefully. There is no security threat in organising public meetings in Kanaighat and Osmaninagar.”
