Gono Odhikar Parishad activists torch Jatiya Party headquarters after rally

Police have dispersed the crowd, dousing the fire with water cannons

Leaders and activists of Gono Odhikar Parishad have vandalised and set fire to the Jatiya Party’s central offices after wrapping up a rally, leaving much of the five-storey building in flames.

The rally was held at the Shahbagh intersection on Friday afternoon.

Around 6:45pm, after the programme ended, the demonstrators marched to the Jatiya Party office.

Ignoring police barricades, they forced their way into the premises and went on a rampage before setting the ground floor ablaze.

Rifat, one of those who took part in the attack, told bdnews24.com: “The Jatiya Party must be banned. They attacked our leader Nur. We will not allow the Jatiya Party to exist.”

Mahmud Alam, office secretary of the Jatiya Party, told bdnews24.com: “Gono Odhikar Parishad activists came directly from Shahbagh, declared their intent, and torched our office. They burned everything - the library, prayer room, and even the chairman’s office.“

“They are ‘mob terrorists’ trying to ban the Jatiya Party by force.”

Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of police, Ramna Division, told bdnews24.com: “They came and set the fire. Police have dispersed them and doused the flames with water cannons. The situation is under control now.”