Opposition Jamaat-e-Islami MP Amir Hamza has accused Gono Odhikar Parishad activists of carrying out a pre-planned attack on his motorcade in Kushtia on Saturday, giving authorities 24 hours to arrest those responsible.

Speaking at a press conference at the Kushtia district Jamaat-e-Islami office on Sunday, Hamza alleged that the attack was intended to create unrest in the district and disrupt his political activities.

He demanded the arrest of those directly and indirectly involved, saying CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts should be used to identify the planners. 

He also called on the police and administration to act free of political pressure and adopt a “zero tolerance” approach.

“The local administration is inactive and has failed,” Hamza said.

Meanwhile, his personal assistant Momin Biswas filed a complaint in Kushtia Model Police Station, naming 23 people and accusing another 40 to 50 unidentified individuals. Police said they had received the complaint and that the process of filing a case was underway, Bangla daily Prothom Alo reported.

Police, eyewitnesses and local sources said the incident followed a recent statement by Hamza about Gono Odhikar Parishad, which held a protest rally at Chhay Rasta intersection on Saturday. Around 5:45pm, as Hamza’s car passed the area with police vehicles escorting it, Gono Odhikar Parishad activists began chanting slogans, triggering a scuffle with Jamaat supporters accompanying his motorcade.

Jamaat-Shibir activists later escorted Hamza towards his residence, after which both sides threw bricks and stones, damaging his car and shattering its windows.