Bhandaria (Pirojpur) Correspondent

A human chain and protest rally were held to protest the late-night armed attack on Md. Zia Uddin Babu, Bhandaria Upazila Juba Dal leader and former joint-president of the Pirojpur District Chhatra Dal. The program demanded the prompt identification, arrest, and exemplary punishment of those involved in the assault.

On Thursday at 4:00 PM, the joint initiative organized by the Bhandaria Upazila and Pourashava branches of Bangladesh Jawab Dal took place at the Kalima Chattar area of the Bhandaria bus stand.

Speakers at the protest meeting stated that at around 2:30 AM on July 23, a group of assailants broke into Zia Uddin Babu's home. Upon discovering them, an argument and scuffle ensued. The attackers subsequently dragged him out into the courtyard and inflicted 12 to 15 severe slash wounds across his body with sharp weapons before fleeing the scene.

Family members rescued him in an unconscious state and rushed him to the Bhandaria Upazila Health Complex. As his condition deteriorated, doctors transferred him to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition, and he was later moved to a Dhaka hospital for advanced medical care.

Condemning the attack, speakers termed the nocturnal home invasion and assault on a political leader deeply reprehensible and alarming. They issued a strong demand for the administration to conduct a proper investigation and swiftly apprehend the perpetrators.

The protest meeting featured speeches from Upazila Juba Dal Member Secretary Md. Shamim Hawlader, Juba Dal leaders Nazmul Hasan Arif, Anisur Rahman Ali Akon, Pourashava Juba Dal President Md. Mehedi Hasan Munshi, former Upazila Jubo Dal joint convener Saiful Islam Bappi, former Pourashava Jubo Dal convener Talukder Ahmed Maruf, Upazila Sramik Dal Member Secretary Md. Al Amin Munshi, and Upazila Chhatra Dal joint conveners Ibrahim Hossain Hiron and Riyajul Islam Shahiraj, among others.

Leaders and activists from various tiers of Juba Dal, BNP, affiliated organizations, and local residents participated in the program.