Police have arrested 22 people in connection with attacking, vandalising and looting Hindu houses in Noagaon village of Sunamganj's Shalla upazila on Wednesday.

The attack was carried out over an alleged Facebook post criticising a Hefajat-e Islam leader's statement.

The arrests were made after conducting drives in different places of the upazila from Thursday night to Friday morning, said Nazmul Haque, officer-in-charge of Shalla Police Station.

On Thursday, two cases were filed with the police station -- one by Habibpur Union chairman and also a victim in the village Bibekananda Majumdar Bakul and another by Sub-inspector Abdul Karim of the station.

Of the 1,500 accused in the cases, Shahidul Islam Swadhin, a member of Sarmangal union of Derai upazila and a resident of nearby Nachni village, was made the key accused, police sources confirmed.

Meanwhile, the local administration extended support to 90 victim families and for repairing seven temples on behalf of the prime minister.

Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Mashiur Rahman and Sylhet Range DIG Mofiz Uddin handed over money, corrugated iron sheets and rice to the victims while visiting the village yesterday.

As emergency support, Tk 3,44,000, 32 bundles of corrugated iron sheets and seven tonnes of rice were given.

During the visit, DIG Mofiz Uddin said communal harmony will be brought back in the area by arresting the attackers soon.

Police were conducting drives after the cases were filed, he said.

Divisional Commissioner Mashiur said, "Those who attacked the village on the birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are nothing but the enemies of the state. Whatever their identities are, they must be brought to justice."

Noagaon village was attacked by Hefajat-e Islam supporters two days after a rally of the Qawmi madrasa-based Islamist organisation in nearby Derai upazila on Monday in the presence of Hefajat Amir Junayed Babunagari and Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque.

Another rally is likely to be held in Jamalganj upazila of the district on Sunday where Mamunul Haque is expected to be a special guest.

The organiser -- Khadimul Quran Mahila Madrasa -- has not taken any permission from the authorities concerned till yesterday afternoon, but it started campaigning for the rally.

Meanwhile, a GD was filed by Jamalganj upazila Awami League President Mohammad Ali for using his name in posters. He is the president of the managing committee of the madrasa.

Saiful Alam, officer-in-charge of Jamalganj Police Station, said, "As far we're concerned, they haven't secured proper permission and no rally can be arranged without permission. We've also registered the GD of the president of upazila Awami League".

"As Shalla has recently witnessed mayhem and if the rally is permitted by the authorities, we'll beef up security to fend off any further untoward incident," he said.

In another development, Awami League Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday said the incident of Shalla is part of conspiracy against the country, reports BSS.

"The attack on minorities in Shalla of Sunamganj is part of conspiracy against the country. The BNP should stay away from the path of anti-national politics," he said while addressing a memorial meeting organised by the Zillur Rahman Parishad at the National Press Club on the occasion of the eighth death anniversary of former president Zillur Rahman.