BNP leader hacked in Ukhia, highway blocked in protest; six arrested

Nurul Amin, member secretary of Palongkhali Union BNP and a former union parishad member, has been seriously injured in an attack by miscreants in Ukhia, Cox's Bazar. Local BNP leaders said he has several blows from a sharp weapon on his head.

Around midnight on Sunday (9 November), he was taken to a hospital in Chattogram from Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital in a critical condition.

The attack happened around 8pm near Rohingya Camp 19 in the Thaingkhali area of Palongkhali Union, Ukhia upazila.

After the attack, local people rescued Nurul Amin and took him to Ukhia Upazila Health Complex. When his condition worsened there, he was sent to Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital. As his condition became critical, it was decided to send him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for better treatment.

Eyewitnesses and local BNP leaders alleged that a group of 10 to 12 people led by Mohammad Alamgir, a leader of Jubo League — the associate organisation of the banned Awami League — and a resident of Thaingkhali, attacked Nurul Amin. He was hacked on the head with local sharp weapons. It is also alleged that several armed Rohingya sheltered in the camp took part in the attack.

Nurul Amin's brother, Nurul Abchhar Munna, claimed his brother was returning home after collecting money from a market in the Rohingya camp. He had Tk 20 lakh with him at the time. The miscreants launched a sudden attack on him to snatch the money, and hacked him with a chapati, he said.

He further alleged that a meeting had been held a few days ago with the aim of killing his brother, and that a top person of the union was present at that meeting.

Palongkhali Union BNP convener Advocate Rezaul Karim Reza said Nurul Amin's condition is critical. He has been struck four to five times on the head with a sharp weapon. Doctors have said O-negative blood is needed to save him because of excessive bleeding.

Ukhia Upazila BNP president Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury said activists of the banned Awami League attacked Nurul Amin. Strongly condemning the incident, he demanded that those involved be brought under the law.

When news of the attack spread, BNP and associate organisation activists blocked the Cox's Bazar–Teknaf highway at at least four places — including Palongkhali Station, Thaingkhali and Ukhia Sadar — by burning tyres. Traffic on the highway came to a halt. The situation returned to normal around 11pm, it was learnt.

Ukhia police station officer-in-charge Atiqur Rahman Majumder said around midnight that a BNP leader had been seriously injured in a terrorist attack. As soon as police received the news, they launched an operation, and six people have already been arrested from various areas.

He added that police have been deployed at the scene and nearby areas to keep law and order under control, and traffic on the highway has been restored. Police are investigating the incident with the utmost importance, he said. The Armed Police Battalion (APBn), deployed for law and order in the Rohingya camp, has also launched an operation over the incident.