Sylhet metropolitan NCP, Jubo Shakti and Chhatra Shakti activists held a torch procession and protest rally against an attack on central leaders Sarjis Alam and Nasiruddin Patwary in Habiganj. The leaders were travelling to join the National Citizen Party’s July Awakening march. The procession began Tuesday night from in front of the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar in Chouhatta.

The march moved through major city roads before ending in a brief rally in the Zindabazar area. Participants chanted slogans protesting the attack and demanded the swift arrest and trial of those responsible. Metropolitan NCP convener Advocate Md Abdur Rahman Afzal said an attack on central leaders during a peaceful political programme was an assault on democratic rights and political tolerance.

Afzal said tougher programmes would be announced with public participation if those involved were not brought under the law and given exemplary punishment. In a separate joint statement, Sylhet district NCP convener Juned Ahmed and member secretary Kamrul Arif demanded the arrest of attackers, planners and instigators within 24 hours. They also called for an impartial investigation, including scrutiny of the role of law enforcement agencies.