National Citizen Party (NCP) chief organizer Nasiruddin Patwary said lawsuits and attacks would not suppress the party’s movement. Speaking to journalists at Sylhet Circuit House on July 31 before joining a march and rally in Companiganj upazila under the “Desh Gorte July Jagoron” programme, he said the party would not leave politics out of fear. He said he would go to jail if detained and to the grave if killed.

Patwary was responding to questions about a complaint filed after a case over an attack on NCP leaders and activists in Habiganj. The complaint named Patwary, northern region chief organizer Sarjis Alam and seven others, while listing 50 additional people as unidentified accused. He said NCP was conducting normal political programmes and described allegations of assault, harassment and snatching as baseless.

He alleged that the cases were being filed on instructions from BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Patwary also alleged a culture of gang activity, terrorism and extortion in politics, while condemning what he described as such activities. On the question of a counter-case, he said NCP had filed a case over attacks on its activists and the other side later filed a counter-case. He called the iPhone-snatching allegation embarrassing.