In the aftermath of the August 5 student-led uprising that toppled the ruling Awami League, leaders from the main opposition BNP, Islamist Jamaat‑e‑Islami, and the newly formed National Citizens’ Party (NCP) have attracted public criticism with several controversial and ill‑timed remarks.BNP Faces Backlash from Within and Beyond BNP leaders—including Vice‑Chairmen Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Barkat Ullah Bulu, advisor advocate Fazlur Rahman, Habibur Rahman Habib, and Barrister Rumin Farhana—have come under scrutiny for inflammatory statements. The party has formally warned Dudu and Bulu (in June) to avoid making speeches that diverge from the party’s official position.
Fazlur Rahman stands out for his particularly provocative comments. In December, he criticized interim government advisers, asking, “You run the country—if you squeeze your nose does milk come out, who are you?” In July, he remarked, “Hassina is bad; Awami League is not,” prompting backlash from his own party members. He even endorsed “Joy Bangla” slogans at an event. In London, before a meeting with Tarique Rahman, he claimed that Yunus traveled twelve hours by plane to seek guidance from Tarique Rahman. He also disparaged religious leaders, quipping that doubling a fee from 500 to 1000 taka can change the tone of sermons or prayers.
Habibur Rahman (Habib) urged supporters not to vote outside the “paddy sheaf” symbol, warning that those who do might not return “healthy.” He further infamously threatened to cut out tongues and feed them to dogs in response to certain slogans—a statement that quickly went viral. He also claimed Jamaat members would never be allowed to serve as imams or muezzins in mosques in Ishwardi, Pabna.
Shamsuzzaman Dudu responded to a controversial NCP remark with the following comment: “If BNP leaders all urinate together, you'd end up floating into the Bay of Bengal.” The remark was widely mocked online. In retaliation, NCP’s Sarjis Alam quipped that Dudu “could have just called for a mass urination program over the last 16 years.”
Barkat Ullah Bulu suggested that NCP leaders should perform ablution (wudu) before uttering the name of Tarique Rahman—a statement he later claimed was unintentional, offering an apology.Rumin Farhana also drew criticism for calling the demolition of the house at 32 Dhanmondi a “grotesque act of mob rule.”
Jamaat Leader Faces Fierce Backlash
Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, a member of Jamaat’s Shura and its Dhaka South Secretary, created a firestorm when he described Umar (RA) as “the most disgraceful person, an animal” before converting to Islam, and told a woman that Umar inspired her to salvage her honor through jewelry. Religious scholars demanded repentance. Masud later appeared on record offering a heartfelt apology, acknowledging his error, asking for Allah’s forgiveness, and blaming what he called politically motivated “marketing” of his mistake.
NCP’s Controversial Remarks Stir Debate
NCP’s chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari has also made headlines for inflammatory remarks. At a rally near former State Minister Lutfor Rahman Babar’s residence, Patwari provocatively stated: “If you can’t handle arms, why did you bring them?” This sparked internal backlash, with BNP leaders advising caution. In Cox’s Bazar, Patwari also made a disparaging comment about a BNP Standing Committee member, prompting further criticism. At another event, he insulted army personnel by claiming they lacked brains—a remark that even Army Chief acknowledged, downplaying concerns by attributing Patwari’s words to youth immaturity.
Political Rift Deepens Across Parties
These headline‑grabbing statements highlight a widening rift among dissenting political voices:
NCP distances itself from both BNP and Jamaat, particularly over disagreements about the election timeline and authority. While other opposition groups prioritize immediate national elections, NCP emphasizes the need for systemic reforms first. Analysts warn such public infighting risks weakening the movement that helped topple the government—raising concerns about political fragmentation and potential backlash
Fazlur Rahman stands out for his particularly provocative comments. In December, he criticized interim government advisers, asking, “You run the country—if you squeeze your nose does milk come out, who are you?” In July, he remarked, “Hassina is bad; Awami League is not,” prompting backlash from his own party members. He even endorsed “Joy Bangla” slogans at an event. In London, before a meeting with Tarique Rahman, he claimed that Yunus traveled twelve hours by plane to seek guidance from Tarique Rahman. He also disparaged religious leaders, quipping that doubling a fee from 500 to 1000 taka can change the tone of sermons or prayers.
Habibur Rahman (Habib) urged supporters not to vote outside the “paddy sheaf” symbol, warning that those who do might not return “healthy.” He further infamously threatened to cut out tongues and feed them to dogs in response to certain slogans—a statement that quickly went viral. He also claimed Jamaat members would never be allowed to serve as imams or muezzins in mosques in Ishwardi, Pabna.
Shamsuzzaman Dudu responded to a controversial NCP remark with the following comment: “If BNP leaders all urinate together, you'd end up floating into the Bay of Bengal.” The remark was widely mocked online. In retaliation, NCP’s Sarjis Alam quipped that Dudu “could have just called for a mass urination program over the last 16 years.”
Barkat Ullah Bulu suggested that NCP leaders should perform ablution (wudu) before uttering the name of Tarique Rahman—a statement he later claimed was unintentional, offering an apology.Rumin Farhana also drew criticism for calling the demolition of the house at 32 Dhanmondi a “grotesque act of mob rule.”
Jamaat Leader Faces Fierce Backlash
Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, a member of Jamaat’s Shura and its Dhaka South Secretary, created a firestorm when he described Umar (RA) as “the most disgraceful person, an animal” before converting to Islam, and told a woman that Umar inspired her to salvage her honor through jewelry. Religious scholars demanded repentance. Masud later appeared on record offering a heartfelt apology, acknowledging his error, asking for Allah’s forgiveness, and blaming what he called politically motivated “marketing” of his mistake.
NCP’s Controversial Remarks Stir Debate
NCP’s chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari has also made headlines for inflammatory remarks. At a rally near former State Minister Lutfor Rahman Babar’s residence, Patwari provocatively stated: “If you can’t handle arms, why did you bring them?” This sparked internal backlash, with BNP leaders advising caution. In Cox’s Bazar, Patwari also made a disparaging comment about a BNP Standing Committee member, prompting further criticism. At another event, he insulted army personnel by claiming they lacked brains—a remark that even Army Chief acknowledged, downplaying concerns by attributing Patwari’s words to youth immaturity.
Political Rift Deepens Across Parties
These headline‑grabbing statements highlight a widening rift among dissenting political voices:
NCP distances itself from both BNP and Jamaat, particularly over disagreements about the election timeline and authority. While other opposition groups prioritize immediate national elections, NCP emphasizes the need for systemic reforms first. Analysts warn such public infighting risks weakening the movement that helped topple the government—raising concerns about political fragmentation and potential backlash