Abdul Hannan Masud, the central senior joint chief coordinator of the National Congress Party (NCP) and the 11-party alliance candidate for Noakhali-6 (Hatiya), has threatened to withdraw from the election if attackers who allegedly assaulted his supporters are not arrested within two hours. He made the statement on Friday, January 30, at a press briefing in a convention hall in Noakhali, accusing armed assailants of injuring 8–10 of his supporters and throwing them into a river during a ferry inauguration event at Nalchira Ghat earlier in the day.

Masud demanded immediate arrests of the identified attackers and warned of tougher actions, including surrounding the local police station, if authorities fail to act. He said that despite repeated appeals, the administration has not provided any remedy. He also stated that his participation in the election would depend on whether the government takes action against the armed groups.

Earlier, a video of a chase and counter-chase between Masud’s supporters and a group of youths at the ferry terminal went viral, with Masud claiming that his supporters were injured in the incident.