JP chair Anisul's residence vandalised

The residence of National Democratic Front (NDF) President and Jatiya Party (a faction) chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud in Hathazari of Chattogram was vandalised and set on fire late Friday night in what police and the party described as a serious act of political violence with wider implications for law and order ahead of the national elections.

According to local sources, more than a hundred attackers swooped on the house at around 11:40pm and went on a rampage for nearly 15 minutes, vandalizing the premises and setting it ablaze using cocktail explosions. The caretaker of the house, Rokeya Begum, said, "More than a hundred people came and set fire to the house," adding that although the attackers caused extensive damage, "they did not loot anything." Personnel from the Hathazari Fire Service later rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control.

Confirming the incident, Additional Superintendent of Police of Chittagong District Police for Hathazari Circle Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said, "The house of Anisul Islam Mahmud was vandalized and set on fire." He said eyewitness accounts indicated that "more than a hundred people came at around 1140 pm and attacked, vandalized and set fire to the house." He also assured that those involved in the incident would be identified and brought to justice, underscoring the administration's commitment to accountability under the law.

The incident triggered strong reactions from the Jatiya Party, which condemned and protested the attack in the strongest terms. An emergency presidium meeting of the party, held at Howlader Tower in Gulshan on Saturday, expressed deep concern over the arson attack and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible along with exemplary punishment. The meeting viewed the attack on the residence of the party chairman as "part of a conspiracy to keep the Jatiya Party away from the elections" at a time when the party is actively preparing to contest the polls.