Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad condemns 'BNP attack' on NCP's Hannan

Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad, a student organisation that broke away from Students Against Discrimination, today condemned the attack on National Citizen Party leader Abdul Hannan Masud in Noakhali yesterday and demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers.

"BNP men attacked National Citizen Party leader Hannan Masud in a planned way with the intention to kill him," they claimed at a press conference at a restaurant in Noakhali's Hatiya upazila.

Hafizur Rahman, joint secretary of Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad, read out a written statement in the press conference.

He said Hannan Masud attended a peaceful procession at Jahajmara Bazar after iftar. At that time, a procession of over 100 BNP men confronted them carrying weapons and sticks, he claimed.

"Subsequently, the BNP men attacked Hannan Masud to kill him," he said, demanding their arrest.

Several NCP leaders were present at the press conference.

Contacted, Hatiya upazila BNP President Fazlul Haque Khokon, however, denied the allegation and said none of the BNP men were involved with such an attack.

Yesterday, Lutfullahil Majid Nishan, joint general secretary of Hatiya unit BNP, alleged that Krishak Dal convener Abdur Rob was assaulted earlier in the evening, prompting their protest rally. He claimed that the confrontation was "not intentional".

At least five people, including Hannan, were injured in a clash yesterday between supporters of NCP and BNP activists at Hatiya's Jahajmara Bazar area.