AL men attack Bhola, Magura <i>poura</i> offices

24 June 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Ruling party activists have ransacked municipality offices at Bhola and Magura and assaulted staff. Activists of Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jubo League yesterday stormed into Bhola Pourasava (municipality) office for what they said the panel mayor's dishonouring a letter sent by LGED state Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak regarding development of the pourasava, according to our correspondent. They damaged doors and windows of the building and had an altercation with panel mayor Humayun Kabir Shofan, also former vice-president of BNP district unit. Shofan refuted the allegation. The agitating AL men then went to the sadar upazila complex in a procession and assaulted Velimia UP Chairman Shahjahan Badsha, Ali Nagar UP Chairman Jamaluddin, and Veduria UP chairman Taher Kazi there. They also ransacked BJP office in front of the pourasava building. Anwar Hossain, BJP district unit secretary, condemned the attack on their office by the AL men. Shahjahan Sheikh, officer in charge (OC) of Bhola Sadar Police Station, said the situation is under control and police are patrolling the area. Our Magura correspondent adds: Officials and employees of Magura Pourasava yesterday abstained from work for three hours protesting attack on one of their colleagues allegedly by BCL men on Tuesday. During work abstention, officials and employees of the Pourasava also staged a sit-in in front of their office. Sources said a group of BCL activists, led by former president Abu Reza Nantu and convener of BCL municipality unit Lion Chopder, stormed into the pourasava office at around 11:30am and asked the office assistant Shahjahan Mia to give a tender schedule for development work at free of cost. As he refused to comply, the BCL men beat him up. Acting mayor Tapon Kumar Roy also filed a complaint with the deputy commissioner (DC). When contacted, Abu Reza Nantu refuted the allegation, saying the acting mayor brought allegation against me only to tarnish my political image.