Section 144 has been imposed in Sirajganj’s Ullapara over a boat-race competition, amid intense tension between BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists and fears of a law-and-order breakdown. The upazila administration issued the order for the Kaligonj Ghat area of the Karatoya River in Ullapara upazila starting Sept. 4.
Ullapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Raihanul Islam confirmed the matter, saying both BNP and Jamaat had organized boat races, and tension arose between the two sides over it. Section 144 was imposed over fears of a law-and-order breakdown. Both sides have accepted the decision. The boat race will be held once an understanding is reached later.
Selim Reza, convener of the boat race organized by BNP and a former union parishad member, said BNP had organized a boat race competition at Kaligonj Ghat on the Karatoya River for Sept. 7-9, with Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku expected to attend as chief guest. But he said Jamaat leader Zahurul Islam Penu suddenly began building a stage next to theirs at the same ghat and preparing for a boat race of his own on Sept. 4-5. He said the administration imposed Section 144 over fears of a law-and-order breakdown.
Zahurul Islam Penu, general secretary of the celebration committee for Jamaat’s boat race and general secretary of Panchakoshi union Jamaat, said they had prepared to hold a boat race at Kaligonj boat ghat on Sept. 4-5. He said Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku is ill and hospitalized, and would be unable to attend the boat race due to his illness. He said BNP, realizing this, filed a complaint with the administration to stop their competition, so they also filed a counter-complaint with the administration. He said it was because of these competing complaints that the administration imposed Section 144.