Miscreants allegedly demolished the house of a local Awami League leader with an excavator, looted valuables and set the property on fire in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali.
The incident occurred early Saturday at the residence of Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Lavlu Kazi, former president of Madhabkhali Union Awami League and former chairman of the union parishad, near Kathaltali Bazar on the Barguna-Subidkhali-Kathaltali-Bakerganj regional highway.
Locals said Mizanur Rahman left the area with his family following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Since then, his elderly mother had been living alone in the house.
On Friday afternoon, she was admitted to a local hospital after falling ill.
Taking advantage of the house being vacant, a group of miscreants allegedly used an excavator to demolish the single-storey building during the night, looted household belongings and later set the house on fire before fleeing.
Mizanur Rahman's brother, Kazi Mashiur Rahman Babul, shared several photos and a video of the demolished and burnt house on Facebook, claiming that he had earlier sought help from the administration and local BNP leaders after learning of preparations to attack the property.
In the Facebook post, Babul alleged that local BNP leaders and activists, including Madhabkhali Union BNP President Shahin Chowdhury Pasha and several others, were involved in the demolition, looting and arson.
He also claimed that gold ornaments, furniture, household appliances and important documents were looted from the house.
Contacted over the allegations, Shahin Chowdhury Pasha denied any involvement.
He claimed that the house had been built on land registered in 2003 for a public library and said neither he nor his associates had any interest in demolishing the property.
Mirzaganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Mohammad Russell said he visited the site on Saturday morning after receiving information about the incident.
"The house has been reduced to rubble. I have instructed the police to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and bring them to justice," he said.
Mohammad Touhiduzzaman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mirzaganj Police Station, said no written complaint had been received so far.
"Legal action will be taken after an investigation if a complaint is filed," the OC added.
