NCP denies 'occupying' AL office in Ctg, claims vandalism fueled by student-people's rage
The AL office on the fourth floor of the Dost Building in the New Market area in the port city had been locked since the fall of the Hasina regime in August last year.
Chattogram NCP leaders in a press conference on Wednesday denied they occupied the Awami League (AL) North District office in the city. They claimed the damage was an expression of "the rage of the student-people."
No case has yet been filed regarding the widely publicised vandalism of the office, despite video footage circulating on social media showing leaders and activists of the NCP damaging the premises.
Police confirmed they have not received any complaint regarding the incident.
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The AL office on the fourth floor of the Dost Building in the New Market area in the port city had been locked since the fall of the Hasina regime in August last year.
On Tuesday afternoon, a group of agitated individuals broke into the office. Video footage shows NCP leader Arif Moinuddin, joint coordinator of the party's Chattogram City unit, and several young men damaging the office furniture and a mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Arif Moinuddin explicitly refuted the occupation claim at the presser.
"We did not go there to occupy; we only dismantled the new office setup," Moinuddin said. He asserted that the student-people grew angry and resorted to vandalism upon seeing the photos of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the office.
"The frustration that Sheikh Hasina used Sheikh Mujib as a weapon for the last 16 years still exists among the people," Moinuddin said.
The NCP leader further alleged that while Awami League's activities are currently banned, the party had been secretly reactivating the office.
"Since the political change on 5 August, the Awami League offices in Chattogram had been abandoned. But for the past two months, we have received news that activities were resuming in the offices; doors and windows were being fixed, and people were coming and going," he stated.
"Upon receiving this information, agitated students and people came here today (21 October), and we found various pieces of evidence," Moinuddin told The Business Standard earlier. How can they conduct such activities despite being banned?"
"We informed the administration, but they did not take any action," he alleged at the presser while police officials confirmed the lack of a formal complaint.
Chattogram's Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Abdul Karim told The Business Standard, "No one has informed us about the incident, and we have not received any complaint."
CMP's Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali zone) Mahfuzur Rahman added, "No case has been filed regarding this incident. If a complaint is received, action will be taken according to the law."
