BNP holds Uttara rally backing MP Jahangir

Thousands of BNP leaders, activists and supporters joined a protest rally in Uttara on Friday, condemning what they described as a coordinated smear campaign against Dhaka-18 Member of Parliament and BNP leader SM Jahangir Hossain.

The procession began in front of the Uttara Polwel Convention Centre in Abdullahpur and passed through key roads in the area. Residents from Uttara Purba, Uttara Pashchim, Airport and Turag police station areas also took part in the programme.

The rally was led by Dhaka North City BNP Joint Conveners Aktar Hossain and Afaj Uddin Afaj, along with other local party leaders.

Addressing a gathering before the procession, BNP leaders alleged that a Facebook page named "Ajker Kantho" had been spreading false and defamatory content targeting SM Jahangir Hossain. They claimed the campaign was aimed at damaging the reputation of the lawmaker, whom they described as an honest and dedicated political leader.

The speakers further alleged that supporters of the Awami League were behind the online campaign, claiming it was intended to undermine the growing popularity of the Dhaka-18 MP. They urged party workers and the public not to be influenced by what they described as misinformation.

Several speakers also referred to the deaths of two people in the Turag River following a police operation on June 22. Citing police accounts and other reports, they claimed the victims drowned after jumping into the river while attempting to flee during a procession allegedly organised by activists of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League.

BNP leaders alleged that subsequent attempts to link the incident to SM Jahangir Hossain were politically motivated and formed part of a broader campaign to discredit both the MP and the BNP. They maintained that social media posts blaming the party distorted the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to police and local sources, a group of 25 to 30 people attempted to leave the area by boat during the June 22 operation after police moved to disperse the gathering. Police said several individuals jumped into the Turag River while trying to escape, and two later drowned. Seven people were arrested during the operation.

The Awami League has not publicly responded to the allegations made by BNP leaders at Friday's rally.

The protest concluded peacefully with participants calling for action against those responsible for spreading what they described as false information and urging authorities to ensure accountability for misinformation on social media.