Activists vandalise Chittagong Awami League office over nomination in Union Parishad elections

A group of Awami League activists have allegedly vandalised the party’s office in Chittagong.

They say they have done so in protest against the nomination of candidates for Union Parishad polls by ignoring suggestions of the grassroots leaders.

The incident appears to be a result of a dispute between Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, State Minister for Land, and Moslem Uddin, President of the party’s Chittagong south district unit. 

Moslem did not take calls from bdnews24.com for his comment while Saifuzzaman, an MP from the area, is in London.

Police said the attack took place at the office of the ruling party’s south district unit at the port city’s Anderkilla on Friday.

Kotwali police OC Jasim Uddin told bdnews24.com, “Around 200 people from different unions under Anwara Upazila carried out the attack.”

He said police charged baton to disperse them. Two police personnel were injured in the incident.

bdnews24.com found several chairs damaged and banners torn in the office.

Around 50 police personnel were deployed around the Awami League office after the incident.

Anwara Upazila Awami League leader Touhidul Haq Chowdhury, a follower of the minister, told bdnews24.com that on Apr 13 they had handed over to the district unit a list of aspirants chosen by leaders of 16 unions under West Patiya and Anwara.

He alleged that district committee President Moslem and General Secretary Mofizur Rahman ignored the list and called nomination-seekers of their own choice instead.

“Supporters of the president and general secretary swooped down on us when we went to protest peacefully against the nomination business after hearing of the matter,” Touhidul said.

But he denied having attacked the party office.

District committee General Secretary Mofizur said the interview of nomination-seekers was called as the minister sent the list of aspirants in his constituency to the central committee ‘without following the due process’.