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On Thursday, April 10, 2025, a vehicle carrying National Citizen Party (NCP) central leader Sarjis Alam came under a targeted bottle attack in Golapganj, Sylhet, shattering the rear windshield and sparking a brief security scare. The assault occurred around 2:45 pm as the NCP convoy was leaving the Golapganj Poura Auditorium after an event that brought together party leaders and families of those killed during the July mass uprising. Police have since launched an investigation, with no injuries reported.
Witnesses said several individuals hurled small soft drink bottles at the convoy as it departed. The bottles struck Sarjis Alam’s Toyota sedan, causing the rear glass to spiderweb and collapse inward. Chants of “Fake, fake” could be heard during the attack, according to local NCP activists who were present. The vehicle was later seen leaving for Sylhet under police escort.
Shibbir Ahmed, a central executive member of the NCP’s labour wing, confirmed the attack to Prothom Alo, adding that vehicles carrying NCP lawmakers Mahmuda Mitu and Atikur Rahman Mojahid were also targeted, along with a bus transporting seven families of martyrs. No damage was reported on those vehicles. Police had been stationed at the auditorium entrance and near Sarjis Alam’s car at the time, but the assailants managed to throw bottles before officers could intervene.
A senior police official from Golapganj Police Station, speaking on condition of anonymity, later told local media that footage from nearby CCTV cameras is being reviewed. “We have identified two suspects based on initial eyewitness accounts. The motive appears to be politically motivated, but we are not ruling out personal vendetta,” the officer said. He added that no group has claimed responsibility.
In a statement issued Thursday evening, NCP Secretary General Abdul Malik condemned the attack as “a cowardly act of political intimidation.” He called on the Sylhet Metropolitan Police to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation. “Such violence has no place in Bangladesh’s democratic discourse. Our leaders and the families of July martyrs should be able to assemble without fear,” the statement read.
The event that preceded the attack was a closed-door meeting between NCP leaders and relatives of those killed in the July 2024 mass uprising—a nationwide student-led movement that toppled the previous government. Golapganj, a subdistrict in Sylhet, has seen rising political tensions in recent months, with local rivals of NCP frequently clashing over control of public spaces and memorials.
Sarjis Alam, a former student leader at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, gained prominence during the July protests and later helped found the NCP. The party positions itself as a centrist force advocating for democratic reform and anti-corruption. Thursday’s attack is the first reported physical assault on a senior NCP figure since the party’s formal launch in December 2024.
Local residents expressed shock at the brazenness of the incident. “We never expected this kind of attack in broad daylight with police present,” said Mohammad Shafiq, a shopkeeper near the auditorium. “It shows that political tension in Golapganj is reaching a dangerous level.”
The attack also drew swift reaction from civil society groups. The Sylhet chapter of the Human Rights Forum issued a press release urging authorities to protect political activists and families of fallen protesters. “The families of the July martyrs are already grieving—targeting them further is unacceptable,” the release stated.
As of Friday morning, no arrests had been made. Sarjis Alam remained in Sylhet for scheduled meetings and was later seen speaking at a smaller NCP gathering under increased security. Party insiders say the incident has galvanised supporters, with many vowing to turn out for an NCP rally planned for next week in Sylhet city.
Analysts see the attack as symptomatic of a broader fragmentation in Bangladesh’s post-uprising political landscape. “The July movement created a power vacuum. New parties like NCP are trying to fill it, but they face resistance from established groups that see them as threats,” said Dr. Ayesha Rahman, a political science professor at Dhaka University. “We may see more such incidents as the next election approaches.”
The NCP has announced it will send a formal complaint to the Election Commission, citing concerns over the security of its leaders ahead of the upcoming local body polls. Party workers in Sylhet have been asked to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.
Thursday’s bottle attack, while minor in terms of physical harm, has become a flashpoint in the running battle for political space in Sylhet. It also raises questions about the capacity of local law enforcement to protect political gatherings, even those with an official police presence. The investigation continues.
