Jagpa spokesperson Rashed Pradhan declared persona non grata in Panchagarh

Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (Jagpa) Vice-president and Spokesperson Rashed Pradhan was declared persona non grata in Panchagarh on Friday afternoon over his remarks about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The declaration came at a brief rally held after a protest procession brought out by local units of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal in the district town.

The procession began in front of the Panchagarh district BNP office around 5:30pm and marched through different streets of the town before ending at the Chowrangi intersection.

During the procession, a group of agitated individuals attacked the Jagpa office and vandalised furniture inside, witnesses said.

Later, leaders brought the situation under control and asked activists to return to the procession.

After the procession, speakers at the rally strongly condemned Pradhan’s remarks and demanded a public apology from him.

They said he would remain persona non grata in Panchagarh until he apologises publicly.

District Jubo Dal General Secretary Nuruzzaman Babu, Swechchhasebak Dal Member Secretary Moniruzzaman Manik, and Chhatra Dal General Secretary Rokonuzzaman (Japan), among others, spoke at the programme.

Contacted, Nuruzzaman Babu told The Daily Star, “We brought out the procession and held a rally peacefully. Rashed Pradhan has been declared persona non grata in Panchagarh until he offers a public apology. Our programme had no involvement in the vandalism at the Jagpa office.”

Rashed Pradhan could not be reached for comments.

Asharul Islam, officer-in-charge of Panchagarh Sadar Police Station, said police visited the spot and found the situation normal, adding that no complaint has yet been filed in this connection.