Rumeen Farhana, a legislator representing Brahmanbaria-2, reportedly faced obstacles while trying to honor the Shaheed Minar in Sarail upazila on International Mother Language Day due to a clash between two factions.
During the incident, her wreath was torn apart amidst the chaos, leading her to depart without being able to pay her respects despite police intervention. Subsequently, her supporters staged a protest by blocking the Dhaka–Sylhet highway for an hour.
In a statement to the media, Rumeen pointed fingers at local BNP leaders and activists for the disruption, alleging a deliberate attack on her while following protocol at the Shaheed Minar. She emphasized the importance of the BNP leadership taking action against members inciting violence to avoid detrimental consequences for the party and government.
Eyewitnesses and law enforcement confirmed that Rumeen arrived at the Shaheed Minar site with a significant number of supporters around 11:50 pm to offer tributes. A group of BNP leaders and activists, led by Anowar Hossain Master, also arrived, sparking tension with slogans that escalated the situation.
The altercation led to a scuffle near the altar, resulting in Rumeen’s wreath being damaged and individuals disrespecting the Shaheed Minar platform by wearing shoes, as reported by witnesses. The local police stated that complaints of pushing and verbal altercations were received, and they are reviewing video evidence to take appropriate legal actions.
Despite law enforcement intervention to restore order, Rumeen had to leave the premises under the protection of her supporters without completing the wreath-laying ceremony. Subsequently, her supporters staged a demonstration by blocking the Dhaka–Sylhet highway, causing disruptions until the authorities assured legal action against those responsible and traffic resumed.
Anisul Islam Thakur, the Sarail Upazila unit BNP president, mentioned that the party had a stance on paying respects at the Shaheed Minar and assured that the incident would be investigated further.
Rumeen secured victory in the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency during the 13th Parliamentary Election as an independent candidate with the “duck” symbol, garnering 118,547 votes. Her closest competitor, Maulana Junayed Al Habib supported by the BNP-led alliance, received 80,434 votes with the “date tree” symbol.
