A recent statement by National Citizen Party’s (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary has stirred controversy, drawing sharp condemnation from the BNP camp. The comment, made during a street rally in Netrokona on Sunday as part of NCP’s ongoing “Desh Gorotey July Podyatra” campaign, raised fresh questions around the infamous 10-truck arms haul case.
Speaking at the event, Patwary criticized the handling of the 2004 arms trafficking incident, rhetorically asking, “If you couldn’t handle the weapons, why did you bring them in?” He further implied that the scandal had jeopardized Bangladesh’s national security and contributed to the rise of authoritarian governance. Without dismissing former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar’s past political persecution, Patwary stated that Babar’s alleged role in the arms case cost BNP its political ground and paved the way for “a killer and fascist like Hasina” to remain in power. “Because of that one mistake, BNP leaders and workers were tortured and killed over the past 15 years,” he claimed.
In response, BNP released an official statement the same day, strongly denouncing Patwary’s remarks and terming them “false, misleading, and politically motivated.” The protest note asserts that Lutfozzaman Babar is a symbol of steadfast leadership who endured over 17 years of incarceration under what they call “a fascist regime.” BNP accuses Patwary of reviving a state-backed narrative aimed at delegitimizing nationalist voices and distracting from the growing public support for the opposition.
The statement also alleges that Patwary’s remarks serve foreign strategic interests and mirror the Awami League’s disinformation tactics. “This is part of a broader attempt to destabilize the election environment and sow confusion,” it claimed, warning that legal action may be considered if the remarks are not withdrawn.
While political differences and critiques are common in Bangladesh’s polarized landscape, this exchange highlights the delicate fault lines between emerging political forces and legacy opposition. As the country inches toward another critical election period, such tensions are expected to rise—with each side vying to control the narrative surrounding past mistakes and future aspirations.
