Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) were prevented from entering Habiganj town on Wednesday as authorities enforced Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure following tensions over an alleged attack on the party's motorcade a day earlier.

After being stopped at multiple points for nearly five hours, NCP leaders eventually submitted a complaint online through the Kamai Chhara Police Investigation Centre in Bahubal upazila instead of filing it at Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station as originally planned.

The party had announced a protest rally and demonstration at Habiganj Town Hall premises at 3:00pm on Wednesday in protest against Tuesday's alleged attack. The district administration, however, imposed Section 144 across the municipal area, citing concerns over possible clashes, as separate programmes had also been announced by the district unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and BNP.

In an order signed by District Magistrate Dr GM Sarfaraz, all gatherings of five or more people, processions, public meetings, slogan chanting, use of loudspeakers and other activities that could potentially disrupt law and order were prohibited until further notice.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam, Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary and other central leaders left Moulvibazar for Habiganj in the afternoon.

At around 4:30pm, their convoy encountered the first police barricade near the "Cha Kanya" sculpture in Sreemangal on the Moulvibazar-Habiganj highway. Witnesses said lengthy discussions and verbal exchanges took place between police and party leaders, with reports of minor scuffles before the convoy continued towards Habiganj.

However, the convoy was stopped again near Rashidpur Gas Field on the Habiganj border, where trucks were reportedly placed across the road. Senior police officials, including Habiganj

Superintendent of Police Tarek Mahmud, held prolonged discussions with NCP leaders as party activists remained on the highway despite heavy rain.

NCP leaders alleged that they intended to file a case over Tuesday's attack and had requested permission for a five-member delegation to enter the town and submit the complaint. According to the party, police declined the request.

Following hours of negotiations, a complaint was lodged at the Kamai Chhara Police Investigation Centre at around 8:00pm.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Nahid Islam said the complaint named 11 individuals, including Habiganj District Chhatra Dal President Shah Rajib Ahmed Ringon, and accused more than 100 unidentified persons in connection with the alleged attack. The complaint was filed by Tanmoy Taher, convener of Habiganj District Juboshakti.

We announced the programme to protest yesterday's brutal attack. We were not allowed to enter Habiganj, and even our representatives were denied permission to go to the police station to file a case. Eventually, we had to submit the complaint at Kamai Chhara, Nahid told journalists.

Police officials said no group was permitted to enter the town due to the enforcement of Section 144 and concerns over potential unrest.

SP Tarek Mahmud said additional police personnel had been deployed across the district to maintain law and order.

"Law enforcement agencies remain on maximum alert. Legal procedures regarding yesterday's incident are underway, and police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those involved, he said.

SI Abhijit Singh of Kamai Chhara Police Outpost said the NCP leaders and their convoy left for Sreemangal at around 8:45pm after submitting the complaint.

Although the district unit of Chhatra Dal had also announced a protest programme, no significant presence of activists was observed in the town during the afternoon. The NCP's planned rally likewise did not take place due to the restrictions.

Officials said traffic movement remained normal throughout the day, while additional police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were deployed at key locations to prevent any deterioration of the situation.

On Tuesday evening, NCP alleged that its motorcade came under attack near the Staff Quarter area while heading towards the Circuit House after concluding its "July March" programme at Town Hall premises. The party claimed that at least 15 leaders and activists, including Sarjis Alam, Nasir Uddin Patwary and district member secretary Mubin Bari, as well as several journalists, were injured. It also alleged that multiple vehicles were vandalised.

While NCP blamed BNP and Chhatra Dal activists for the attack, district Chhatra Dal leaders denied the allegation, claiming that tensions escalated following remarks made by NCP leaders during the programme.

To avoid possible confrontation between rival groups, the administration imposed Section 144 in several key areas of Habiganj municipality, including the Town Hall grounds, Tin Kona Pukurpar, Shayestanagar, Cinema Hall Road, Chowdhury Bazar, Town Hall Road, Court Station and the DC Office vicinity.