Lock Broken at BNP Office in Patuakhali's Dashmina, TV and Chairs Reported Stolen; Party Workers Protest

The lock of the temporary office of Charborhan Union BNP in Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali has been broken and a television, chairs and other goods reported stolen, party leaders and activists have alleged. The estimated value of the stolen goods is 50,000 taka, they said.

The broken lock and the missing goods inside the office at Pagla Bazar in the upazila were noticed by party workers on Thursday evening, 5 November.

According to local sources, several leaders and activists went to the office after Maghrib prayers and found the door lock broken. Entering inside, they found the necessary goods missing and realised a theft had taken place.

The leaders and activists claim a 32-inch LED television, 40 chairs, two dozen cups and saucers, an Akash dish connection and some important documents were stolen from the office.

Party and affiliated organisation workers later brought out a protest march over the incident. At a road meeting after the march, they demanded a proper investigation, identification of those involved and bringing them under the law.

Charborhan Union Chhatra Dal president Rezaul Gazi said he went to the office after hearing after Maghrib prayers that the lock had been broken and goods stolen. He found no goods inside. He claimed the incident was planned and demanded those involved be identified quickly and brought under the law.

Charborhan Union BNP president Yunus Hawlader said the theft of goods worth nearly half a lakh taka from the temporary office was not an ordinary matter. They suspect it was done in a planned way. The matter has been informed to the upazila BNP president, and they will take legal recourse, he said.

Upazila BNP president Siddik Molla said he had been informed of the incident and had instructed leaders and activists to remain calm. He said the next steps would be taken after discussing the matter with the officer-in-charge of the police station on Friday.

Dashmina police station officer-in-charge Atikul Islam, however, said the room had been made into an office during the election period. It had remained closed since the election because of a dispute over the land. When or how the theft took place was not known, he said, adding that necessary action would be taken after investigation if a written complaint is received.