Barrister Rumeen Farhana, MP from Brahmanbaria-2, today said that she was obstructed and attacked while attempting to place a wreath at the Sarail Shaheed Minar during the first hour of International Mother Language Day.

Her supporters blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway following the incident between 12:30am to 1:30am.

Speaking to local journalists, she said, “As an elected member of parliament, I was supposed to place the first wreath at 12:01am. But some BNP men launched an attack. I was pushed aside, and a situation was created where I could have been knocked to the ground.”

“After 17 years, BNP has returned to power. If the party does not immediately control its activists at the local level, the consequences will be dire,” she said.

Describing the incident as “premeditated,” she claimed that the local BNP president and secretary were not present and a locally known “goon” led a group of unruly youths in carrying out the attack.

Rumeen also linked the incident to political rivalry, saying her victory as an independent candidate had fuelled resentment among her opponents.

Terming the law-and-order situation “vulnerable”, she said police had tried to intervene but “five or ten officers cannot control such a violent situation when ruling party activists unleash mayhem.”

“Certainly, I want justice. I have already filed a case,” she said.