In a defiant display of political resurgence, activists associated with the Bangladesh Awami League have re-established their presence at the Chittagong North District party headquarters. On Monday afternoon, a group of loyalists arrived at the Dost Building, situated near the bustling New Market intersection in Chittagong, to remove the signage of a rival political entity and reinstate the party’s official banner.
The operation was spearheaded by Shawkat ul Anam, former Joint Secretary of the North District Chhatra League, and Kazi Suruj, a former central leader of the student wing. Their arrival marks a significant moment for the party in the port city, following months of displacement and political turbulence.
A Scene of Restoration and Loss
Upon reaching the fourth floor of the Dost Building, the activists found the premises occupied by the National Citizens’ Party (NCP). Shawkat ul Anam confirmed to local media that they had removed the NCP’s metropolitan office signage to make way for the Chittagong North District Awami League’s board.
The activists reportedly had to break a padlock to gain entry to the suite. Once inside, however, they were met with a scene of total depletion. The furniture and essential office equipment that had previously furnished the headquarters were entirely absent.
“We found the office completely ransacked,” Anam stated. “Items such as chairs, tables, microphones, IPS units, and cupboards were gone. Most poignantly, the portraits of our late national and district leaders, which had hung there for years, have been removed. We have now secured the premises with our own locks.”
A Timeline of Political Unrest
The Dost Building office has been a focal point of regional political friction since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024. The office has faced multiple waves of occupation and vandalism over the past several months.
| Date | Event | Key Details |
| 5 August 2024 | Fall of Government | Office ransacked following the resignation of the Prime Minister. |
| 21 October 2024 | Occupation | A group of youths, including NCP coordinators, broke into the suite. |
| 15 February 2026 | Mural Cleaning | Chhatra League activists cleaned a mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Laldighi. |
| 16 February 2026 | Reclamation | Former Chhatra League leaders reinstate party signage and secure the office. |
Escalating Tensions in the Port City
The reclamation was documented in videos that rapidly circulated on social media, showing activists chanting “Joy Bangla” while affixing stickers and banners to the doorway. This move follows a similar act of defiance on Sunday, where party members gathered at Laldighi Maidan to wash and restore a mural of the nation’s founding father, which had previously been defaced.
These coordinated efforts suggest a concerted attempt by grassroots activists to reclaim physical and symbolic spaces in Chittagong. While the building remains a site of high tension, the reinstatement of the signage serves as a bold assertion of the party’s intent to resume local operations amidst a volatile political climate.