Bangladesh, July 30 -- A convoy carrying senior National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders was blocked twice by police on its way to Habiganj on Wednesday, prompting party leaders and activists to stage a sit-in on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway amid heightened tensions with the ruling BNP.

The standoff marked the first major confrontation between the student-led NCP and the BNP since the February general election-the first national vote held after the July 2024 uprising.

The NCP had announced a protest in Habiganj over attacks on its "July March" programme the previous day. Local BNP and affiliated organisations later announced a counter-programme at the same place and time.

Citing the risk of clashes, the Habiganj district administration impose...