A group named Inquilab Mancha vandalized and set fire to the central office of the Awami League, whose activities have been banned by an executive order of the interim government, in Dhaka’s Gulistan area.

The incident took place around 1:00 PM on Thursday (November 13). The group assembled in Gulistan and torched the Awami League office.

Videos spreading on social media show people gathered at the site holding a sit-in protest. Many were also seen destroying a carved graffiti of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the office wall.

Earlier, to counter the banned Awami League’s “lockdown” program centered on the trial of Sheikh Hasina, leaders and activists of Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir took position in front of the party’s central office in Gulistan.

At that time, a banner of Dhaka Metropolitan South Chhatrashibir was seen hanging in front of the office. Under the banner, activists stood with national flags tied around their heads and sticks in hand.

Eyewitnesses reported that a group of 10 to 15 people gathered wood and cardboard in one area on the fourth floor of the building and set it on fire. When the intensity of the fire decreased, those present reignited it.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year, the building was set ablaze. Looting continued throughout August. Not only this building, but the Dhaka District Awami League office in Tejgaon and the Awami League president’s office in Dhanmondi were also torched. Valuables were looted from those sites as well. Since then, these three buildings have remained largely abandoned.

In response to the banned Awami League’s online-announced “lockdown” program, leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami took positions across the streets of Dhaka on Thursday. Processions were held in some places. Similar scenes were witnessed in various areas of the capital.

The building had been occupied by July faction forces, who established the “International Institute for Research on Fascism and Genocide” there.

Meanwhile, to prevent disorder surrounding the banned Awami League’s “Dhaka lockdown” program, law enforcement agencies are maintaining strict vigilance in the capital and surrounding districts. Since Wednesday, 14 platoons of BGB have been deployed in Dhaka and nearby districts. In addition to police, RAB and army personnel are also working to keep the law and order situation normal.

Assistant Commissioner (Motiheel Zone) Hussain Muhammad Farabi said, “A group under the banner of Inquilab Mancha set fire to the Awami League party office. Later, they vandalized the furniture inside.”