Bricklane News-
In the two days following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, at least 25 top-level leaders of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations have had their homes and business establishments attacked, vandalized, set on fire, or looted across various parts of Sylhet city. However, the number of casualties, if any, remains unconfirmed.
In addition to attacking the homes of Awami League leaders and activists, arsonists set fire to the office of the Sylhet Superintendent of Police (SP), the Sylhet Kotwali Model Police Station, and the police outposts in Bandar Bazar, Sobhanighat, and Lamabazar. The Sylhet District Council office and the City Corporation building were also vandalized. According to two sources, there were also attempts to vandalize the office of the Sylhet Police Commissioner and the central jail.
On Tuesday afternoon, a visit to Bandar Bazar revealed smoke still rising from the SP office building. Several burnt-out vehicles lay in front of the building. Onlookers gathered to take photos of the wreckage. City Corporation cleaning staff were seen clearing broken glass in front of the vandalized City Hall. The Bandar Bazar, Sobhanighat, and Lamabazar police outposts were also completely burnt.
Several police officers confirmed that no essential documents from the SP office remain. All furniture and critical paperwork were destroyed by fire. Similar destruction occurred at the Bandar Bazar, Sobhanighat, and Lamabazar outposts. On Tuesday, a vehicle was set ablaze inside the Kotwali Model Police Station. While efforts are being made to restore the SP office and the outposts, the absence of essential documents poses a major operational crisis.
Eyewitnesses and several Awami League leaders stated that immediately after the news of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation broke, groups of people marched to the homes of key and well-known leaders of the Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League, and Swechchhasebak League and launched attacks. Homes of a recently departed state minister, two members of parliament, the mayor of Sylhet City Corporation, and several city councilors were vandalized.
Among the homes targeted and set on fire were those of:
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Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and President of Sylhet District Awami League
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Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, former Foreign Minister and MP of Sylhet-1 (Sadar and city)
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Ranjit Chandra Sarkar, MP of Sunamganj-1 (Tahirpur, Jamalganj, Dharmapasha, and Madhyanagar)
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Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation
Their residences are located in Shaplabagh, Dhopadighirpar, Gopaltila, and Pathantula respectively.
According to Awami League sources, the home of Nasir Uddin Khan, General Secretary of Sylhet District Awami League and Chairman of the District Council, was also attacked. The in-laws’ house of Misbah Uddin Siraj, former central organizational secretary of the Awami League, was targeted as well. In addition, Azadur Rahman Azad, 20th Ward Councilor and Joint General Secretary of Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League, had his house vandalized.
The home and office of Debangshu Das Mithu, General Secretary of Sylhet Metropolitan Swechchhasebak League, were also attacked and set on fire. Vehicles parked in his garage were also destroyed.
Further attacks include:
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The office of Jahangir Alam, 35th Ward Councilor and Jubo League leader
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The office of Ruhel Ahmed, 32nd Ward Councilor and President of Sylhet Government College Chhatra League
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The office of Mokhlesur Rahman Kamran, Panel Mayor, 9th Ward Councilor, and Welfare Secretary of the Metropolitan Awami League
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The home of Tarek Uddin Taj, 10th Ward Councilor, known as pro-Awami League — which was looted and torched, including his personal car
Despite being politically neutral, the home of Rezwan Ahmed, 5th Ward Councilor, was also vandalized and set ablaze. His elder brother is Lokman Ahmed, a veteran politician and President of Jasad Sylhet. They reside in a joint family home in Amberkhana’s Borobazar area.
