C T Online Desk: A BNP office in Chattogram city’s Kazir Dewri-Nur Ahmed Road was vandalised today allegedly by ruling party men.
Before attacking the BNP office, Awami League men accused BNP activists of vandalising an election camp of Mohiuddin Bacchu, AL nominated candidate for Chattogram-10 consistency by-polls, in port city’s Lalkhan Bazar.
AL leaders said the camp was vandalised when the BNP activists were returning from a road march programme that took place earlier in the day.
However, police denied any vandalism incident in the BNP office. They said Bangladesh Chhatra League men took position before the BNP office and tore apart banners and posters there.
AL leaders said BNP activists vandalised the election office of Mohiuddin Bachchu at around 5:00pm.
They also alleged that BNP activists threw brickbats at AL activists and vandalised a few vehicles.
However, BNP leaders have denied the allegations.
Protesting the incident, Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League activists blocked the Wasa intersection of the city, temporarily halting vehicular movements on the CDA Avenue.
Earlier, Chattogram city unit BNP organised the road march led by BNP’s standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. The road march started from Kazir Dewri area at around 3:40pm and ended in the city’s Dewanhat area crossing city’s New Market-Railway Station and Kadamtali at around 5:00pm.
Sources said, protesting the attack on election camp office, the Jubo League and BCL men took to the street and brought out a procession from city Wasa area and marched towards BNP party office in Kazir Dewri area.
The aggravated AL and BCL men, at one point, entered Nasiman Bhaban, city BNP party office and vandalised chair tables and other furniture of the ground floor, said witnesses.
They also destroyed banners, posters and set a fire in front of the BNP office.
However, there was no BNP men inside the party office during AL attack, they added.
Nasiman Bhaban is located within one kilometer of Mohiuddin Bacchu’s election camp.
On information, additional force from Kotwali police went to the party office and tried to quell the situation.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) (South) of CMP Mostafizur Rahman said, “The road march prgoramme ended peacefully. A group of BNP men pelted stone from Akhtaruzzaman Flyover towards the election camp office while returning triggering a tense situation. Later police rushed to the Wasa area and dispersed both groups.”
“Following the vandalism in AL camp, some AL and BCL men protested the attack and took position in front of BNP party office. There is no incident of vandalism inside the party office,” claimed the DC.
The DC said police later dispersed the BCL men.
“Law is equal. If there is any legal ground, we will register BNP’s case in this regard after verifying the incident,” DC added.
BNP Chattogram city unit convener Shahadat Hossain denied attacking the election camp.
He said their road march did not pass through the Wasa intersection, so their leaders and activists attacking the election camp of the Awami League candidate at the Wasa intersection made no sense.
“If the Awami League claims that our activists have carried out the attack, then ask them to name those who have carried out the attack. We will take organisational action if we receive specific allegations against any of our leaders and activists,” said Shahadat.
