AL men ransack, torch BNP office

Gokunda union BNP office at Mostofi village in Lalmonirhat Sadar lies ravaged as criminals allegedly belonging to Awami League ransacked and set fire to it early yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

Four people received burn injuries as Gokunda union BNP office at Mostofi village of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila was ransacked and set afire alleged by ruling Awami League (AL) men in the early hours of Tuesday.
A fire service team with the help of locals later doused the fire.
The burn injured men are Anis Miah, 40, Mostofa Islam, 45, Bhuttu Miah, 35, and Nurul Islam, 42, -- all residents of Mostofi village. Anis and Mostofa are undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital and Bhuttu and Nurul at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital, locals said.
Anis Miah is secretary of No 4 ward AL of Gokunda union and the three others are executive members of the union unit of AL, said local people and BNP activists.
"A tense situation is prevailing among the activists of Awami League and BNP over the incident. Additional police have been deployed at Mostofi village to check further unwanted incident," said Sadar Police Station Officer in Charge Moynul Islam.
Some chairs, tables, file cabinets, roof, doors and windows of Gokunda union BNP office were burnt to ashes as unidentified miscreants ransacked and later set fire to the office, police said.
Police is trying to find out the reason behind the incident and identify the miscreants, OC Moynul Islam said.
Lalmonirhat district BNP President Asadul Habib Dulu alleged that identified AL cadres ransacked BNP office and set fire on it at midnight and a couple of them got burnt when they were trying to loot furniture.
However, district AL Secretary Motiar Rahman denied BNP men's allegation, saying, "Awami League is not responsible for ransacking and setting fire to BNP office. It occurred due to internal clash in BNP. The burn injured people are not Awami League activists. They are linked with BNP men."