AL office vandalised, torched in Gulistan

A group of protesters set fire to the Awami League’s central office in Gulistan on Thursday afternoon.

Eyewitnesses said that a group of 10 to 15 individuals entered the party office chanting slogans against the Awami League after 1pm on Thursday, and vandalised it.

They also heaped some banners inside the office. Later they gathered wood, cartons and other materials on the fourth floor of the office and set them on fire.

After the flames subsided, the individuals reignited the fire. The situation persisted until approximately 1:15pm when this report was filed.

Earlier, The Awami League, whose activities have been banned, announced protest programmes across the country from Nov 10 to Nov 13 as the date for Hasina’s trial verdict approached. 

Awami League also announced a "lockdown" ahead of the International Crimes Tribunal verdict against former PM Sheikh Hasina and two others, scheduled for Monday, November 17, by a three-member bench led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumder.

Different political parties and anti-Awami League groups have been staging counter-programmes against the party.

Since the morning, different groups were seen marching around the party's office, chanting anti-Awami League slogans.

Law enforcers also patrolled the area several times. Around 1 pm, a group marched into the office, vandalised and set fire to it.

However, Paltan Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Moniruzzaman Sheikh said that police had no information about the incident.

He said, "We are not aware of any reports of vandalism or arson."

Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in the face of a mass uprising on Aug 5, 2024. On that day, her official residence Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office and the parliament building were vandalised and looted. The Awami League’s central office in Gulistan was also looted and set on fire.

The building has been abandoned since then, with some vagrants staying there at night. Some use it as a toilet.