Barishal Bureau

Unidentified men wearing masks attacked and vandalised the houses of two BNP leaders in Barishal on Wednesday night.

The incident occurred around 8 pm, when 30-40 assailants, wearing helmets and monkey hats, carried out the attack on the homes of Zahirul Islam Litu, joint convener of the metropolitan unit BNP, and Syed Akbar, former joint convener.

No injuries were reported, said Nazmul Nishat, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kawnia Police Station.

Syed Akbar described how the attackers, on motorcycles, broke the windows of his house using machetes (ramda) and hockey sticks before fleeing the scene. "The police have been informed, and we will decide on legal action after discussions," Akbar added.

Eyewitness Rubel Hossain said that a group of men, wearing helmets and monkey hats, attacked the house of Zahirul Islam Litu on the main road in Kawnia.

They entered the premises, vandalised two motorcycles, and damaged property inside the house. Other attackers arrived on three-wheelers and joined in, shouting insults at BNP leader Litu.

Litu, who was not at home at the time, said his wife and two children were left terrified by the attack. "Legal action will be taken," he added.

In response to the attack, several local BNP leaders, including former member secretary of Barisal metropolitan BNP Mir Jahidul Kabir, KM Shahidullah, president of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum Mohsin Montu, and others, rushed to the scene to support the victims.

Mir Jahidul Kabir, former member secretary of metropolitan BNP, condemned the attack, describing it as cowardly, and said it was still unclear who was responsible. "If any party members are found involved, we will file a complaint with the central command for appropriate action. For now, both leaders will lodge a complaint with the police station," he said.

OC Nazmul Nishat said that police visited the scene following the report but the victims could not identify the attackers.

He said that action would be taken if a formal complaint was received.