Awami League leaders home demolished and looted in Patuakhali attack
Photo Collected
A senior leader of the Awami League in Mirzaganj, Patuakhali, had his residence demolished and set ablaze in a targeted attack that began late Friday and continued into Saturday morning. Kazi Mizanur Rahman, the president of the Madhabkhali Union Awami League and a former Union Parishad chairman, has been in hiding since the change in government on August 5.
According to family members, the attack involved a mob of approximately 250 people. Mizanur’s wife, Meherunnesa Shilpi, alleged that local leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—specifically Union President Shahin Chowdhury, General Secretary Mehedi Hasan, and former president Monir Khandaker—orchestrated the destruction. She claimed the attackers utilized a bulldozer to raze the six-room residence, looting valuables including appliances, air conditioning units, and jewelry valued at roughly 3.5 million taka before setting the structure on fire.
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Witnesses reported that the assailants intimidated local residents and shopkeepers, forcing them to clear the area near the Kathaltali market and seizing mobile phones to prevent the recording of the incident. Despite the proximity of the Kathaltali police outpost, the attackers reportedly drove law enforcement back when they attempted to intervene, citing safety concerns as the reason for the officers’ withdrawal.
In response to the incident, Mirzaganj Fire Service station officer Md. Ibrahim confirmed that fire crews arrived at the scene shortly after 6:00 a.m. Saturday to extinguish the flames. While the house was gutted and significantly damaged by the bulldozer, no casualties were reported as the family was in Dhaka at the time.
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The accused BNP figures have offered conflicting responses. Shahin Chowdhury denied any involvement, claiming he was in Dhaka at the time of the incident. Conversely, Monir Khandaker alleged that the house was built on occupied public library land, asserting that the property did not belong to Mizanur. When questioned about taking matters into their own hands rather than utilizing legal administrative channels, Khandaker suggested that the action was a response to past political tensions, though he did not directly address the allegations of looting and arson.
Mirzaganj police officer-in-charge Md. Touhiduzzaman stated that while an investigation is underway, the department had yet to receive a formal written complaint from the victims. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Md. Russell visited the site shortly after the incident and confirmed that he has instructed the local police outpost to investigate the matter and take necessary legal action.
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