Vandalism and Arson at Awami League Office in Magura, 3 Detained

PNN | News Desk, Magura

An incident of vandalism and arson occurred at the district Awami League office in the Jamrultala area of Magura town after party leaders and activists hoisted the party and national flags in front of the office. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon. Police have detained three people in connection with the incident, including a vice president of the district Awami League.

The detained individuals are: district Awami League Vice President Enamul Haque Hirak (52), Organizing Secretary of the district Mohila Awami League and former Vice Chairman of Sadar Upazila Parishad Mosa. Sonia Sultana (40), and Awami League activist Usman.

Eyewitnesses said that at around 5 p.m., several activists led by Enamul Haque Hirak raised the party and national flags beside the road in front of the district Awami League office. After a brief prayer there, they left the area.

At that time, in a video that spread on social media, Enamul Haque was heard saying that the party office had remained closed for a long time since August 5. He claimed that a government had now been formed through elections in the country and that politics should resume through democratic processes.

According to locals, after the news of the flag hoisting spread, some activists from various wings of the BNP arrived at the site and vandalized the flag stand. They then broke the lock of the Awami League office located on the third floor of the building, entered inside, vandalized furniture, and set them on fire.

When asked about the incident, District Swechchhasebak Dal Member Secretary Abdur Rahim said that after receiving the news he went there and saw that ordinary people had resisted the Awami League. However, he claimed he did not know who had set fire to the office.

In the evening, when visiting the scene, flames were still visible in a room on the third floor of the building. One of the building owners, Tahmid Hasan, said that the office had also been vandalized and set on fire on August 5, the day the Awami League government fell. After that, a notice was issued to rent out the building, but no one showed interest in renting the fire-damaged flat, so it remained locked.

Magura Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Mirajul Islam said that three people were detained on allegations of reopening the office of a banned organization and conducting propaganda activities. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest others involved in the incident, and legal action will be taken against them.