A late-night assault by an unidentified group of vandals culminated in an arson attack at the ancestral home of Bangladesh’s former Education Minister, Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, in Chattogram. The incident transpired at approximately 2:00 am on Friday (6 August) at Chashma Hill, situated within the Panchlaish residential district of the port city.

The historical residence, widely recognized as the family estate of the late former Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, was targeted under the cover of darkness. According to local witnesses, a group of miscreants forcibly entered the premises, ransacked the ground floor, and attempted to set the structure ablaze. The flames subsequently caught onto the residential gas pipeline, escalating the fire before neighborhood residents rushed to the scene, causing the perpetrators to flee into the surrounding alleyways.

At the time of the breach, the building was largely unoccupied, barring security personnel. Since the dramatic political shifts following 5 August 2024, family members had not been residing in the house, a factor that prevented potential casualties during the attack.

Upon receiving emergency notifications, law enforcement officials and units from the Fire Service and Civil Defence swiftly dispatched teams to the location to bring the blaze under control and secure the perimeter.

Providing further details regarding the response, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Panchlaish Police Station, Md. Zahedul Islam, confirmed that police forces were deployed immediately upon receiving distress calls at around 2:00 am. He stated that a comprehensive investigation has been launched to identify the perpetrators and determine the full extent of the financial damage caused by the vandalism. Additional police contingents have since been stationed around the Chashma Hill area to prevent further unrest and maintain order.