Dhaka, Dec. 8 -- Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, General Secretary of the AB Party, was allegedly harassed by local BNP activists in his home constituency of Babuganj, Barishal, on Sunday. Fuad has blamed members of the BNP for the incident, while BNP leaders have strongly refuted his claims.

The confrontation occurred during the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the under-construction Mirganj Bridge over the Arial Khan River. Two advisers of the interim government-Fawzul Kabir Khan and Brigadier General (Retd.) Sakhawat Hossain-were also present at the event. The bridge, currently being built at an estimated cost of Tk 1,500 crore, has been a long-awaited infrastructure project for the region.

According to witnesses, tension had been bre...