DHAKA, Feb 6: In a shocking act of violence, an uncontrolled mob vandalized and set fire to the residence of former president Abdul Hamid in Kishoreganj district late Thursday night. Local media reports indicate that a large crowd stormed the house, looted valuables, and set it ablaze. The situation escalated earlier in the evening when a bulldozer was used to demolish the Kishoreganj district Awami League (AL) office.
The Daily Star reported widespread unrest, with houses of Awami League (AL) leaders being attacked and torched, and numerous murals and busts of the nation’s founding leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, being defaced and destroyed across nearly two dozen districts. Tensions further heightened after protesters set fire to the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and vandalized the house of Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of AL, in Noakhali District.
The law and order situation collapsed as mobs engaged in vandalism and arson in several districts, including Rajshahi, Cummila, Barisal, Pabna, Narayanganj, Tangail, Narsingdi, Bagerhat, Bogura, Chuadanga, Pirojpur, and Jamalpur.
In response to the widespread violence, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) called on the interim government led by Dr. Yunus to take control of the growing unrest. In a statement early on Friday, the BNP expressed deep concern over the escalating acts of vandalism and arson, urging the government to take immediate steps to restore law and order. The party warned that failure to do so could jeopardize the stability of the state and government. BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi criticized the interim government for its failure to effectively address the unrest and hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
