Published : 18 Sep 2026, 10:36 PM
Updated : 18 Sep 2026, 10:43 PM
A BNP leader has been accused of threatening to burn a Hindu businessman to death in Patuakhali’s Bauphal Upazila.
An audio recording of the alleged one-minute and 57-second conversation containing the threat has gone viral on social media.
Businessman Govinda Chandra Mandal, who was reportedly threatened in the incident, filed a general diary (GD) against the BNP leader on Thursday, Bauphal Police Station chief Sirajul Islam said.
The 52-year-old Govinda lives in Bauphal Sadar Union. He is involved in the real estate business in Dhaka. He also owns cattle and poultry farms and fish enclosures in the area.
Govinda had announced that he would run for chairman in the union council (UP) elections, and had put up banners and festoons in the constituency accordingly.
Md Farid Uddin Gazi, 60, is a member of the Bauphal Upazila BNP.
Police official Sirajul said, “After receiving a court order regarding the GD filed by businessman [Govinda], we will take legal action after an investigation. However, after the businessman filed the GD, I went to the scene on Thursday evening and found out that Farid Gazi is a suspect in a cheque fraud case.”
Later, Farid was arrested in connection with the cheque fraud case and sent to jail by the court, the police official said.
The GD states that Govinda has been receiving regular threats since he announced his intention to stand in the UP elections. As part of these threats, the BNP leader threatened to “burn him to death”.
In the audio call recording that went viral on Facebook, a person can be heard saying: “Brother, my name is Farid Uddin Gazi. My grandfather’s name is Shamsul Alam Gazi.
“I have a wish, you know? I want to burn an untouchable alive. I have picked you. What do you think? What is your reaction? I went looking for you this morning, but I think you are not in the area.”
In response, the businessman is heard saying, “No, no, no, I’m not there.”
Then, the caller is heard saying again: “So what is your opinion on this? I want to burn an untouchable, and I have picked you. What do you say? As you record phone conversations for your convenience, record this one too. What is your comment on this?”
In response, the businessman said: “What is my comment? If you wish to do it, you should do it.”
Immediately, the caller says: “Usually, you burn after you die. I want to burn you before you die.”
Govinda said, “If that is what you wish.”
The caller said, “This is not my nature. If it were, everyone would have called me horrible and fainted.”
They then asked, “When are you coming to this area?”
The businessman replied, “I will definitely come. Since I live in the area, shouldn’t I come home? I will come.”
Then, the caller says: “So, will you inform me, or will I have to keep an eye on you?”
Govinda responds, “If I come, people will know. They will know the day I come.”
The businessman claims the man on the other end of the phone conversation is BNP leader Farid.
“After I announced my candidacy for the UP elections and even before that, he threatened me over the phone. He also demanded extortion of Tk 5 million then. I could not record what he said at the time.”
Govinda said, “Farid is a criminal. That is why I am worried. I have filed a GD at the police station over this incident.”
Patuakhali District BNP General Secretary Mojibur Rahman Toton said that he has instructed the Bauphal Upazila BNP convener and member secretary to take action against Farid over the incident.
He said, "Action has been taken against that leader, and it has been asked to be sent to the district committee. Subject to the recommendation of the Upazila committee, organisational disciplinary action will be taken against the leader involved."
