Days after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won in the Parliamentary elections, reports have come that a local party office of the BNP has faced serious damage in the post-poll violence by a violent mob. 

According to a local media outlet, the Daily Star, the incident took place in Rupganj Upazila of Naryanganj in the wee hours of Saturday, February 14. The authorities involved in the case are currently investigating the case as per Rupganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shabzel Hossain. 

“The miscreants broke a window and poured ‘petrol or something similar’ inside the office before setting it ablaze,” the OC said. So far, the police have identified two individuals in connection with the vandalism of the party office.

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BNP Reacts To The Vandalism

Local BNP leaders have criticised the recent attack on the party and termed it a politically motivated vendetta by the rivals against the BNP due to the massive popularity that it received in the polls. 

Supporting this claim, Rupganj’s local BNP General Secretary Bashir Uddin Bacchu said that activists from opposing political factions may have played a role in the incident. Meanwhile, Mansur Mia, the president of Rupganj Union Jubo Dal, said that the party began the construction of the office about a month ago and completed it just a week before the elections. 

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The Union President further said that everything was quiet and normal, and party leaders and activists were present at the spot until midnight on Friday. However, when they returned the next day, everything was burnt to ash. The blaze was extinguished with the help of locals, but furniture and other items inside the office were damaged. 

“We suspect it was a petrol bomb. Otherwise, the fire would not have spread so quickly,” Mansur added. 

In the aftermath of the incident, the BNP leaders are preparing to file a complaint in the local police station, according to the Upazila OC. "Necessary legal action will be taken following investigation once a complaint is lodged," he added.