Jatiya Party Office Occupied in Bogura by Group Identifying as ‘July Fighters’

A group of people identifying themselves as “July fighters” occupied the Jatiya Party’s district office in Bogura and hung banners there. During the incident, slogans were chanted demanding the banning of the Jatiya Party. The incident took place on Saturday (10 January) around 11:00 am at the Jatiya Party office located on Kazi Nazrul Islam Road in the city.

According to police sources, a group began protesting in front of the Jatiya Party office in the morning. At one stage, they removed a previously hung banner containing a condolence message for Begum Khaleda Zia. Later, they put up two new banners inside and outside the office on behalf of the “families of martyrs and injured July fighters of the Twenty-Four People’s Uprising.”

One banner hung inside the office read, “Vote yes if you want reform and change, and vote no if you do not.” The same banner also stated, “The key to reform is in our hands, the key to the country is in our hands.”

The banner hung outside carried a message stating, “On behalf of the families of martyrs and injured July fighters of the 2024 people’s uprising, we express deep condolences and sympathy along with a photo of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.”

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bogura Sadar Police Station, Moniruzzaman, said that the banners hung at the Jatiya Party district office were claimed to have been put up on behalf of the families of those martyred in the “Twenty-Four People’s Uprising” and the injured “July fighters.” Police were present at the scene to maintain control, and additional surveillance was imposed in the area.

During the protest, Nur Mohammad Jubayer, identifying himself as an NCP leader, delivered a speech. He claimed that the Jatiya Party had acted as an ally of the Awami League. In his words, “Although the Jatiya Party has not yet been banned, this party does not have the right to participate in Bangladesh’s elections.”

Attempts were made to contact Ahmed Sabbir, Bogura district organizer of the NCP, to get his comments on the incident, but he did not answer the phone. Similarly, repeated calls to the mobile phone of Bogura district Jatiya Party general secretary and former Member of Parliament Nurul Islam Omor also failed to establish contact.

The incident has sparked discussion and tension in the political arena. However, no official reaction has been received from the Jatiya Party or other concerned political parties regarding the matter.