A video of Manirampur Upazila BNP general secretary Asaduzzaman Mintu’s remarks on a Family Card recruitment examination prompted public debate on social media.
At a 25 July joint meeting of the Shyamkur union BNP, Mintu warned that Jamaat-e-Islami activists found at the examination venue would have their limbs broken.
He also urged women supporters to be alert to what he called misleading statements by Jamaat-e-Islami.
Mintu later said the statement was political rhetoric, not a real instruction, and alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami activists had made adverse social-media posts after the recruitment notice was issued.
Mintu said the examination was completed peacefully and that candidates’ party affiliation or religion was not considered.
Manirampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Samrat Hossain said the examination for Family Card data collectors and supervisors was held at the Upazila Parishad auditorium on 29 July.
Hossain said 1,572 candidates took the data-collector test and 198 took the supervisor test.
The administration received no complaint that any candidate had been prevented from taking part, Hossain said.