Is there no administration in the country?” – National Party leaders and workers express anger upon arriving at the burned-down office.
The ground floor of the four-story building has been burned down, and the marks of the fire are still visible. The other floors have been vandalized. On visiting those floors, items were found scattered across the floors.
This is the scene at the central office of the National Party in Bijoynagar, the capital. Around 11 a.m. today, Friday, this is how the building appeared, damaged by the attack.
Under the banner of “Fascist Students, Workers, and People,”
a number of individuals marched in front of the National Party office yesterday evening, Thursday. They and National Party workers engaged in a chase and counter-chase after stones were thrown there. The office was later burned down.
Today, the building, damaged by the attack, vandalism, and fire, was seen lying empty. Some leaders and workers came to inspect the whole building. However, no police or other law enforcement personnel were seen in front of the office.
I spoke with the leaders and workers who had come to view the building. Many of them asked, “Is there no administration in the country?” The office was burned down like this, and no one stepped in.”
When asked for their names, these workers refused to reveal them.
The fire caused damage to the bottom level of the National Party office. Furniture and other goods have been vandalized. The mural of the late National Party Chairman, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, on the office wall was also damaged.
On the condition of anonymity, a local shopkeeper told that there had been crowds of people here for several days. Yesterday, the building was set on fire.
Hasnat Abdullah, the coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, wrote on Facebook around 7 p.m.: “This traitorous National Party attacked our brothers in Bijoynagar with firearms and is parading armaments. This time, we must remove these traitors.” Hasnat Abdullah then posted again, indicating they would march from Dhaka University’s Raju Sculpture to Bijoynagar at 8:30 p.m.
Sarjis Alam, another leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, posted a similar message on Facebook at 7:30 p.m. He had written: “We are heading to Bijoynagar with a procession from the Raju Sculpture.” Later that night, a procession departed from Dhaka University for Bijoynagar.
