×

Protesters 'splitting' Bangladesh, says Sheikh Hasina's ally after party office set on fire in Dhaka

Protesters vandalised Jatiya Party offices, pulled down signboards and smeared ink on party founder Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s picture on the wall

Unidentified assailants vandalize an office of Jatiya Party that supported the country's ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh | AP

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s coalition, Jatiya Party’s central office in Dhaka, was set on fire following clashes on Thursday night. 

Protesters vandalised Jatiya Party offices, pulled down signboards and smeared ink on party founder Ershad’s picture on the wall. 

Reportedly, clashes erupted when protesters carrying the Chhatra Sramik Janata banner marched with a torch procession in front of the Jatiya Party's central office in the Kakrail area. 

ALSO READ | When will Bangladesh seek extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India? Interim leader Muhammad Yunus clears the air

Jatiya Party chief Ghulam Muhammed Quader, who had also served as the former commerce minister under Hasina's leadership, said that such protesters were "splitting" the nation. 

"The country is now divided," Quader was quoted by AFP. 

"They disregard everyone else, splitting the country into 'pure' and 'impure' factions... They determine who is culpable and who is not, leaving no room for justification. Once they tag someone as culpable, it's final."

ALSO READ | Bangladesh president says no documentary evidence of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation

Meanwhile, Shakiluzzaman, a leader of Gono Audhikar Parishad, alleged that when they were passing in front of the Jatiya Party office, bricks were thrown at them from the roof of the office provoking the clash. 

Gono Audhikar Parishad is one of the political parties that participated in the movement against Sheikh Hasina.

The Jatiya Party, founded by the late President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, was part of the Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance. The party participated in the last three general elections despite a major party BNP boycott. 

"Jatiya Party terrorists themselves set fire to their office and escaped. Jatya Party acted as a proxy of the fascist Awami League in the 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections," Shakiluzzaman was quoted by ANI. 

On August 5, Hasina, fled to India amid wide protests erupted in Bangladesh against a controversial quota system in government jobs. Hundreds of people died in the protests that erupted since mid-July.