BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas described independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi, who was recently shot in Dhaka-8 constituency, as his 'child-like competitor' rather than a rival. Speaking at a protest rally organized by Dhaka South BNP, Abbas expressed sympathy for Hadi and condemned the attack, calling it an assault on democracy. He emphasized that his supporters remained peaceful to avoid disrupting Hadi’s medical treatment.

Abbas alleged that the chaos at the hospital following his visit was a premeditated conspiracy by a specific political group aiming to destabilize the situation. He claimed that individuals who incited unrest were not Hadi’s supporters but members of another party seeking to obstruct his recovery. Without naming the group, Abbas accused them of having a long history of political intrigue and attempts to create instability in the country.

The rally, attended by senior BNP leaders including Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Tanvir Ahmed Robin, concluded with a protest march demanding the arrest of those responsible for the attack and exposure of the alleged conspirators.