Leaders of the Jatiya Party (JP) in Khulna are saying that the recent attack on their office was pre-planned.
They held a press conference on Sunday afternoon at the Khulna Press Club to share their concerns about what happened.
On Saturday evening, their office was vandalized and set on fire.
The JP leaders claim they had a feeling this might happen and even warned the local police commissioner about it the day before.
They were surprised that despite knowing there was a threat, the attack still occurred.
They are also questioning whether the government had any involvement in the attack.
Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Zulfiqar Ali Haider stated that police were prepared to protect places that could be attacked.
However, the rally that led to the violence was not supposed to go through that area.
The crowd unexpectedly showed up at the JP office, and things escalated very quickly, leaving little time for anyone to react.
During the press conference, Shafiqul Islam, a vice chairman and district president of the Jatiya Party, explained that their party has supported students in recent protests against discrimination.
He mentioned that JP members had provided food and water to students during these protests, and some of them were injured as well.
He criticized attempts to link the JP to the ruling Awami League and called the party a supporter of fascism.
He strongly condemned the attack and demanded a fair investigation to find and punish those responsible.
Shafiqul Islam also said they believe that the local students and community members were not behind the attack.
Instead, he thinks a third party incited by those who want to take control of the JP office was responsible for the violence.
He urged the authorities to find and punish the attackers.
After the incident, JP leaders tried to file a report at the police station that night but claimed their complaint was not accepted.
The police, however, denied this.
Sheikh Moniruzzaman Giyas, the officer in charge of the local police station, told that, as of Sunday afternoon, no one had formally complained about the vandalism and arson at the JP office.
However, the police have filed a general diary about the incident, and no arrests have been made yet.
Witnesses reported that around 6 PM on Saturday, a group of angry students and protesters, rallying against discrimination, arrived at the Dakbangla area.
They first broke the sign at the JP office, then entered the building, smashing furniture and setting fires, all while chanting against JP leaders.
Sajidul Islam, one of the coordinators of the student movement, claimed that their group was not connected to the attack.
He argued that the angry crowd targeted the JP office because they see it as an ally of corrupt politicians and fascists, and they protested by burning tires on the road.
