DHAKA, July 19 – A local Awami League leader’s family has alleged that their ancestral home in Mirzaganj, Patuakhali, was demolished, looted and set ablaze in a politically motivated attack, accusing local leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of orchestrating the incident.
According to the family, the attack targeted the ancestral residence of Kazi Mizanur Rahman Lovlu, president of the Madhabkhali Union Awami League and the elected union parishad chairman.
Family members said Kazi Mashiur Rahman Babul broadcast a Facebook Live video before the incident, appealing to the administration, the public and BNP leaders to intervene. They alleged that law enforcement officers briefly visited the scene but later left, after which a group of attackers demolished the house using heavy machinery.
The family further alleged that household furniture, electrical appliances, important documents and approximately 17 bhori of gold ornaments were looted before the property was set on fire.
They accused supporters of former BNP minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury of directing the attack and named several local individuals they alleged participated in the demolition and looting.
Reuters could not independently verify the allegations, including the reported losses or the identities of those accused.
There was no immediate response from BNP leaders named in the allegations. Police and local administrative authorities had not publicly commented on the incident at the time of publication.
The reported incident comes amid continuing political tensions in Bangladesh, with rival parties frequently accusing each other of intimidation, violence and politically motivated attacks. It was not immediately clear whether authorities had opened an investigation into the allegations.
