The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has termed the recent incident in Sherpur surrounding an election manifesto declaration event as “unwanted” and called for a prompt and impartial investigation into the matter.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at the BNP Election Steering Committee office in Gulshan, BNP Election Steering Committee Spokesperson and Adviser to the party chairperson, Mahdi Amin, said the violence that erupted in Sherpur was in no way desirable and could have been avoided.
Responding to questions from journalists, Mahdi Amin raised several concerns regarding the circumstances that led to the clash. He questioned why one party occupied all the chairs at the venue before the scheduled time, why sticks and rods were gathered by that party’s activists, and why their candidate allegedly chose confrontation despite repeated collective requests to avoid conflict. He stressed that all these issues should be brought under investigation as soon as possible.
Mahdi Amin explained that the Sherpur event was organised by the local administration for the formal declaration of the 13th national parliamentary election manifestos, with participation from all candidates. Seating arrangements had been designated for each party.
However, he alleged that leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami occupied all the seats and prevented BNP leaders and activists from sitting in their allocated places. Despite repeated appeals from the administration, they reportedly refused to vacate the chairs.
He described the violence that followed—stemming from what he called a trivial issue over seating—as deeply unfortunate. “After the mass uprising, we all expected an election environment that would be festive and peaceful, not violent and confrontational,” Mahdi Amin said.
Expressing deep concern over the human cost of the incident, he said one person was killed in the clash, noting that regardless of political affiliation, such a loss of life is unacceptable. He also stated that more than 40 BNP leaders and activists were injured, several of whom remain in critical condition.
“The person who lost his life and those who were injured all wanted a state system where elections are peaceful, free from violence and conflict,” he added.
Mahdi Amin urged the administration and law enforcement agencies to take a stronger and more proactive role to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future. He called on all parties and stakeholders to refrain from provocation and to avoid responding to any form of incitement.
Concluding his remarks, he appealed to all political forces to work together to ensure peaceful coexistence and a cordial election campaign environment. “Only through restraint, responsibility, and mutual respect can we guarantee a peaceful and democratic election,” he said.
