Violence erupts at Comilla Union Parishad office during chairman reinstatement
Photo Collected
Tensions erupted at the Fatehabad Union Parishad office in Comilla’s Debidwar upazila on Monday as local demonstrators stormed the facility to block the reinstatement of Chairman Kamruzzaman Masud. The protest escalated into violence, resulting in the vandalism of office property and the physical assault of the union’s secretary, Abu Hanif Rana.
The unrest stemmed from a directive by the divisional commissioner ordering the reinstatement of Masud, who had previously served as the general secretary of the now-prohibited local Awami League branch. Following the political transition on August 5, Masud faced multiple criminal charges, including a case related to the killing of a protester named Rubel during the July mass uprising.
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According to local accounts, Masud had been absent from his duties for months, citing medical leave while delegating his responsibilities to acting chairman Mohammad Salauddin Ruhul. Although Masud was previously incarcerated after a lower court denied his bail, he successfully secured release from the High Court approximately one month ago. His subsequent petition to the divisional commissioner to reclaim his position triggered Monday’s confrontation.
Acting chairman Salauddin Ruhul stated that while preparations were underway to follow administrative orders and hand over official duties, a coalition of local supporters from various political factions—including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Gono Odhikar Parishad—gathered at the office to protest. The situation turned volatile when members of the crowd entered the secretary’s office, assaulting him and damaging furniture.
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Police were deployed to the area in anticipation of instability, and officers arrived shortly after the violence broke out to disperse the crowd and secure the office. The injured secretary was transported to a local health complex for treatment.
Debidwar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ashok Bikram Chakma confirmed that a formal complaint, identifying specific suspects and supported by video evidence, has been filed with the police. Local authorities, including the district administrator and the superintendent of police, have been briefed on the incident.
Officer-in-Charge of Debidwar Police Station, Mohammad Moniruzzaman, stated that an investigation is underway. He assured that legal action will be taken against those identified in the footage as responsible for the assault and the destruction of public property. Neither Masud nor the union secretary were immediately available for comment regarding the incident.
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