A human chain, protest procession and rally were held in Shyamnagar of Satkhira today under the banner of the Conscious Citizens' Society (Swacheton Nagorik Samaj) declaring Satkhira-4 lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam 'persona non grata.
At the programme held in Shyamnagar Sadar around 11:00am, the participants declared Jamaat MP Gazi Nazrul Islam unwelcome in Shyamnagar and demanded the cancellation of his parliamentary membership and that he be brought to justice.
The organisers said the programme was held in protest against a video involving Gazi Nazrul Islam that recently circulated on social media and the developments that followed. However, most participants appeared to be leaders, activists and supporters of the BNP, according to organisers.
Among those who addressed the rally were former district BNP convener Solaiman Kabir, district BNP member Ashek-e-Elahi, former Dhaka University student leader Abu Sayeed, Padmapukur Union Parishad Chairman Amjadul Islam, Gabura Union Parishad Chairman Masuder Alam, upazila Mohila Dal President Nurjahan Parveen, upazila Jubo Dal Convener Shafiqul Islam, district Swechchhasebak Dal member Sultanul Arefin and upazila Sports Association Member Secretary Md Moniruzzaman.
The speakers alleged that the video reflected Gazi Nazrul Islam's "moral failure" and said he had no moral right to remain a member of parliament. They urged Jamaat-e-Islami to expel him from the party and take steps to cancel his parliamentary membership.
They also declared him unwelcome in Shyamnagar and said programmes would continue across the upazila until he is brought to justice.
The speakers said the video spread on social media on Monday night. They said the lawmaker initially claimed it had been created using artificial intelligence (AI), but later stated that he had married the woman on June 17. They also claimed that a bio-data submitted on June 22 described the woman as unmarried.
They further alleged that another video showed local people confining the two in a room, where the lawmaker apologised, and claimed that neither identified the other as husband or wife at the time. They also questioned the marriage deed later presented as proof of the marriage.
The speakers further alleged that Gazi Nazrul Islam is not a freedom fighter despite his claim and accused him of being a former JASAD Gonobahini leader involved in repression in Shyamnagar. They also alleged that Jamaat has not taken any action against him.
