BNP leader injured in attack, highway blocked in Cox’s Bazar

A BNP leader was seriously injured in an attack by a group of assailants in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Sunday night, prompting party activists to block the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf highway at several points in protest.

Nurul Amin, member secretary of the Palongkhali Union BNP, came under attack around 8:00 PM in the Thaingkhali Rohingya camp area of Palongkhali union.

He was initially taken to Ukhiya Upazila Health Complex and later shifted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for advanced treatment as his condition was critical.

Following news of the attack, BNP and its affiliated organisations’ leaders and activists blocked the highway at at least four locations, including Palongkhali Station, Thaingkhali and Ukhiya Sadar, by setting tyres on fire. Traffic remained suspended until around 10:00 PM, according to reports.

According to eyewitnesses and local BNP sources, a group of 10 to 12 assailants allegedly led by local Jubo League leader Mohammad Alamgir attacked Nurul Amin with locally made weapons, leaving him with multiple injuries to his head. There were also allegations that several armed Rohingya residents of the camp took part in the attack.

Palongkhali Union BNP convener Advocate Rezaul Karim Reza said Nurul Amin had sustained four to five blows from sharp weapons to his head and lost a significant amount of blood. Doctors said he needed O-negative blood, he added.

Ukhiya Upazila BNP president Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury alleged that leaders and activists of the banned Awami League were involved in the attack. He condemned the incident and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice.

Ukhiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman confirmed the attack, saying a BNP leader had been seriously injured. Police were conducting drives to arrest those involved, he said.

Additional police personnel were deployed in and around the area to restore normal traffic and maintain law and order.