AL cadres vandalise arches to welcome state minister in Patuakhali
Arches and the stage for a public meeting erected at Galachipa in Patuakhali to welcome State Minister for Water Resources Mahbubur Rahman were vandalised and burnt early yesterday.
Galachipa Upazila AL leaders blamed the cadres of local AL lawmaker Golam Mawla Rony for the vandalism. The visit of the state minister was also cancelled following the incident.
Police and party sources said Mahbubur Rahman, who was elected lawmaker from Patuakhali-4 (Kalapara-Rangabali) constituency, was scheduled to visit Sidr- and Aila-affected embankment and cross dams in Panpatty area and address a gathering there yesterday morning.
To welcome the state minister, AL activists erected five arches at different points, including Galachipa ferry ghat and municipality, and a meeting stage at Panpatty decorated with photos of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
But all arches and the stage were vandalised and burnt at about 2:00am yesterday.
Md Harunur Rashid, upazila AL president and chairman of Upazila Parishad, Haji Abdul Wahab, upazila AL vice-president and municipal mayor, said local goons Badal, Zahid, Rano, Shabu, Ranjan led by Abbas, upazila BCL president, and Makbul Khan, brother-in-law of local AL lawmaker Golam Mawla Rony, carried out the vandalism to resist the visit of the state minister to Galachipa.
On Wednesday, the cadres of Rony also foiled a preparatory meeting for the visit of the state minister at the local party office, they added.
Denying all the allegations, Makbul Hossain Khan also alleged that those who erected the arches have carried out the vandalism to defame lawmaker Rony.
SA Khalek, officer-in-charge of Galachipa Police Station, said the programme of the state minister at Panpatty was cancelled and the police are investigating the incident.
When contacted, State Minister Mahbubur Rahman said immaturity of some politicians and infiltrators in the party are responsible for the incident.
Local administration and the police have been asked to investigate the incident and take legal action against the persons involved, he added.
Comments