Multiple properties linked to political leaders in port city Chattogram and capital Dhaka were targeted in a series of attacks last night followed by a countrywide violence centering movement waged by quota protesters.
The residences of Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel and Mayor Rezaul Karim, as well as the office of Awami League MP Md Mohiuddin Bachchu, were vandalized in Chattogram.
Witnesses at Nowfel’s and Bachchu’s properties reported that the attackers did not appear to be students.
Around 6:30 p.m., a group from a protest march targeted the Education Minister’s house, causing damage to furniture and windows, and vandalizing two vehicles parked nearby.
Nowfel, who is the eldest son of the late AL leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, was an organizing secretary of the party.
A team from Panchlaish Police Station responded to the attack promptly.
The assault on city Mayor Rezaul Karim’s home in the Bahaddarhat-Bahaddarbari area of the port city occurred around 7:30pm.
Chandgaon Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Salma Akter confirmed that police arrived at the scene shortly after the attack began.
Rezaul, a joint general secretary of the AL’s Chattogram Metropolitan Unit, described how approximately 200 people broke into his house and detonated crude bombs in the yard.
MP Bachchu’s office in Lalkhan Bazar was also attacked later in the evening.
Witnesses reported that about 10 people from the protest march vandalized furniture and set fire to it.
Additionally, BNP leaders Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Chattogram city unit BNP convener Ershad Ullah also experienced attacks on their homes.
In a separate incident, two cars were set on fire and eight others were damaged at BNP leader Shahadat Hossain`s car parking zone.
Mohammad Idris, a former office secretary of Chattogram city unit BNP, claimed that around 200 individuals threw stones at Shahadat Hossain’s car park, burning two cars and damaging eight others.
All the BNP leaders accused members of the ruling party of orchestrating the attacks.
BNP leaders’ places targeted in Dhaka
Several properties of BNP leaders in Dhaka were subjected to attacks.
Barrister Rumeen Farhana, International Affairs Secretary of BNP, stated on her Facebook Live around 11:45am that a group of young men with sticks had gathered outside her Elephant Road home in the capital.
She claimed they were shouting with her name in an abusive manner and vandalized her home where she lived with her mother.
Similarly, AKM Mozammel Haque, an executive committee member of BNP, reported that a group of individuals, some posing as law enforcement officers, searched his residence in Dhanmondi. However, Haque was not at home during the incident.
Additionally, the family business of Dhaka city north unit BNP’s member secretary imprisoned Aminul Haque, ‘New Cafe Dhansiri’ in Mirpur-1, faced significant vandalism and looting.
Aminul Haque’s elder brother alleged that the attack, which occurred around midnight, was carried out by leaders and activists of the Chhatra League and Juba League.
