A BNP leader has allegedly halted the construction work of a riverbank protection project along the Padma River in Zajira, Shariatpur, threatening workers and assaulting an engineer.

According to reports, the BNP leader and his associates stated, “All work here will be done by BNP leaders. We will supply all materials. No outsiders will be allowed to work here.”

The incident took place in the Pailan Mollar Kandi area under Purbo Naodoba Union of Zajira Upazila. Allegations have been raised against BNP leader Rafiqul Islam Farazi, president of the local BNP unit, along with his followers. They are accused of threatening workers at a block manufacturing site and physically assaulting a civil engineer employed by Tripol A Enterprise, which is working under Khulna Shipyard.

On Wednesday (April 8), a video showing the threats and alleged assault went viral on social media, sparking widespread discussion and criticism.

Local sources and workers at the site said that on April 6, around noon, Rafiqul Islam Farazi arrived at the block-making site with a group of people. Initially, they visited a site operated by Bengal Construction under the FIDL-Vinson JV contractor and claimed to find evidence of substandard materials being used. They then forced workers to stop their work.

Later, the group entered a nearby block manufacturing site operated by Khulna Shipyard. Although no issues were found with the materials there, they allegedly behaved aggressively with workers and officials, and assaulted an engineer. They also threatened that work could only continue if it involved them.

A 2-minute 21-second video of the incident is reportedly in possession of the reporter, where BNP leaders can be heard making such statements.
The victim, civil engineer Mehedi Hasan Ratul of Tripol A Enterprise, said,

“We were working in the office when several people suddenly arrived. I didn’t recognize them well, but they identified themselves as BNP members. They began accusing us of using poor-quality materials. I told them to report any concerns to our higher authorities. At one point, they said no one could do business here without them. When I started recording the incident, they attacked me, tore my shirt, and beat me. I have informed my superiors, and they will take legal action.”

When contacted, BNP leader Rafiqul Islam Farazi said,
“Substandard stones and sand were being used at the block site, so we stopped the work.”
He denied the allegation of assault, saying it was only a verbal argument.

When asked whether he informed higher authorities about the alleged use of substandard materials, he replied that he had not. He also mentioned that their MP had instructed them to oversee work in their respective areas.

When questioned about their authority to stop the work, he said, “Shouldn’t we intervene if substandard work is being done in our area?”
He also denied threatening that no one could work there without BNP involvement.