Bangladesh: Jamaat candidate Khairul Kabir’s nephew threatens BNP supporters to 'slit throats'

Jamaat candidate’s nephew issues threat (Representative Image)

A video has gone viral showing the nephew of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate in Bangladesh openly threatening Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters, vowing to “slit their throats” in the Netrokona constituency ahead of the general elections.

Zakaria Niyogi, nephew of Jamaat candidate Khairul Kabir Niyogi, made the threats during a protest rally last week in Netrokona, according to Prothom Alo. Zakaria is reportedly a member of the district Jamaat’s working committee and a part-time lecturer in the English Department of Gurudayal Government College in Kishoreganj.

The report cited party and local sources saying that an argument had erupted between Zakaria Niyogi and BNP supporters last year. Following that, his supporters were involved in another clash with BNP supporters over an e-bike fare on Monday, during which his men were reportedly assaulted.

During the Jamaat’s protest rally on Tuesday, a clip from Zakaria’s speech circulated widely online, in which he said: “We must identify them, and from today you should all be prepared—if any voice is raised in the future, their throats will be slit. If a finger is pointed at my uncle, that finger will be broken.”

Zakaria later acknowledged that his remarks were wrong and offered an apology. “Supporters of the BNP candidate have repeatedly tortured me, my relatives, and my people at different times. That is why I spoke at the protest rally. Only a fragment of my speech has been published, where my inappropriate remarks can be heard. However, regardless of that, it was wrong of me to make such statements. I could not control my anger, and for that I apologise to everyone,” he told Prothom Alo.

Jamaat candidate Khairul Kabir Niyogi described the remarks as an emotional outburst, saying Zakaria had been reprimanded. He also claimed that Zakaria had been threatened by the BNP’s student wing at his college.

Meanwhile, BNP candidate Md. Rafikul Islam Hilali said he and his supporters were feeling threatened. “The nephew of the Jamaat candidate cannot make such statements. I will submit a written complaint to the returning officer today regarding this matter,” he said.

Police have taken note of the incident and said they would take legal action once a formal complaint is received.