Swechchhasebak Dal leader threatens to ‘remove head from neck’ of BNP leader in Shariatpur; video sparks tension

Fresh tension has arisen in Shariatpur around Sadar Upazila BNP general secretary Mahabub Morshed Tipu Madbar, centred on the ongoing movement demanding that Shariatpur Agricultural University be set up near the district town. District Swechchhasebak Dal president Aminur Rahman Aman Madbar threatened to ‘remove his head from his neck’. A video of the remarks has spread on social media, drawing widespread discussion and criticism across the district.

Aman Madbar made the threat on Sunday morning (November 1) while speaking at a protest programme held against Tipu Madbar on the premises of the Shariatpur deputy commissioner’s office. Leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated and associate organisations were present beside him. The viral video shows him speaking in front of journalists on the DC office premises and, at one point, directing threatening remarks at Tipu Madbar.

In the video, Aman Madbar is heard saying that they held protests and blocked roads demanding expulsion from the party and arrest over derogatory remarks about Whip Opu, and that district BNP leaders had asked them to lift the road blockade and assured them Tipu Madbar would be expelled and arrested within a day or two. He added that if there is any conspiracy against Mia Nuruddin Opu and the government’s image is damaged, whoever it is, his head will be removed from his neck and he will be declared unwanted in Shariatpur.

The background is the movement over the university’s location. On October 28, a protest march and rally led by Tipu Madbar demanded that Shariatpur Agricultural University be set up near the district town. After that programme, a section of BNP leaders and activists alleged that objectionable remarks had been made about National Parliament Whip and Shariatpur-3 MP Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Opu. In protest, on the morning of November 1, a section of leaders and activists of the district Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal brought out a protest march from in front of the DC office, later blocked the town’s main road demanding Tipu Madbar’s expulsion and arrest, and submitted a memorandum to district BNP general secretary Sardar A K M Nasir Uddin Kalu.

After the threat video spread, Tipu Madbar told a courtyard meeting with locals on Monday night, held to demand the university beside the Dhaka-Shariatpur highway, that his pictures were being made and burnt in various places and speeches were being given about bringing his neck down. He said that without Tipu, no one in Shariatpur town had dared to bring out a procession in the past 17 years, and that in 2018, during the party’s founding anniversary, he had stood firm and saved leaders. He said his life has been spent in struggle and no one should give him a war cry; the agricultural university will be in the heart of Shariatpur town—that is their demand, and he has no personal interest in it.

Asked about the remarks, district Swechchhasebak Dal president Aminur Rahman Aman Madbar denied the allegation, saying: “I did not make such remarks. You should listen carefully.” He disconnected the phone immediately after saying this. Tipu Madbar, meanwhile, said: “I have seen the video threatening me. I will decide on taking legal steps in this regard.” Alongside the rival positions among BNP leaders and activists over the movement that began over the university’s location, such a public threat has caused concern and criticism in political circles.