National Citizens Party (NCP) leader Abdul Hannan Masud has clarified controversial remarks he made referring to the alleged gang rape of a teenage girl in Khagrachhari as a “fake rape,” which had sparked public outrage.
In a new post on Facebook, Hannan Masud expressed regret over his earlier choice of words, stating that it was unintentional and that he was “embarrassed and sorry” for using the phrase. He emphasized that crimes such as rape cannot be denied under any circumstances and called for “the strictest possible punishment for the perpetrators.”
The clarification follows the resignation of Alik Mru, the sole representative of a minority indigenous community in NCP’s central committee, from his position as joint chief organizer (northern region) on Monday. Mru resigned, citing the party’s silence over the Khagrachhari incident and Hannan Masud’s use of the “fake rape” phrase as reasons for stepping down, calling the remarks false and objectionable.
Shortly after Mru’s resignation announcement, Hannan Masud posted on Facebook reiterating that unrest in the hills was being provoked through the alleged rape case and stressed his commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty. He later deleted that post and issued a revised statement around 2:00 pm, explaining that his use of the term “fake rape” at a public meeting in Chandani Union, Hatiya Upazila, was an inadvertent slip and not his intention.
In the revised post, he wrote: “I sincerely regret using the unintended words. Crimes like rape cannot be denied. The perpetrators must be punished with the strictest penalties. I hope my well-wishers, supporters, and critics will consider this as a momentary mistake.”
Hannan Masud also urged citizens from both the hills and the plains of Bangladesh to remain united, dismiss conspiracies by defeated and fascist forces, and maintain peace through dialogue. He called on law enforcement agencies and the government to carefully listen to both sides and manage the situation responsibly.
In his original remarks at the Hatiya meeting, Hannan had claimed that “conspiracies are underway in Bangladesh’s hill districts” and alleged that India aimed to destabilize the region using the alleged rape incident to create tension between Bengali and hill communities. He warned that Bangladesh would respond firmly to any threats to its sovereignty.
