Tensions remained high in the area following the attack, with supporters of the opposing sides chanting slogans. Police took up positions between the two groups to prevent further confrontation and maintain order.
Sajjad Zahir Chandan, president of the CPB’s central committee, said a group of young men had launched a sudden attack on the party’s headquarters at Mukti Bhaban. He accused BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists of being responsible for the incident.
According to Chandan, the tension arose following the detention and subsequent release of Dipak Shil, a former president of the Bangladesh Students’ Union, earlier in the evening. The circumstances surrounding Shil’s detention and release became a point of contention, with allegations over political slogans adding to the dispute.
Those accused of carrying out the attack reportedly alleged that CPB activists had chanted the slogan ‘Joy Bangla’. Chandan rejected the claim, insisting that no such slogan had been raised from inside the party’s headquarters.
The differing accounts have left questions about the immediate trigger for the violence and the identities of those involved. While the CPB has blamed BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists, the allegations have not been independently established, and the BNP side has denied responsibility.
Paltan Police Station officer-in-charge Ariful Islam said that Dipak Shil’s supporters had celebrated his release by chanting ‘Joy Bangla’. He said some individuals became angry over the alleged slogans and subsequently attacked the CPB office.
The police officer also confirmed that the CPB had accused some of the alleged attackers of being BNP activists. However, BNP activists rejected the accusation. Police are investigating the incident to establish what happened and determine who was involved.
Officers positioned themselves between the two groups as tensions continued, seeking to prevent the dispute from escalating into further violence. The authorities have not provided details about any arrests or injuries in connection with the incident.
The attack has raised concerns about political tensions in Paltan, an important area of the capital where political party offices and supporters are concentrated. Disputes involving rival political groups can quickly disrupt public order, particularly when disagreements over slogans or political affiliations lead to confrontation.
The immediate priority for the police is to contain the situation and establish the facts surrounding the attack. The competing claims made by the parties involved will need to be assessed as part of the investigation, rather than treated as established findings.
For now, the CPB’s allegations against BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists remain contested. The BNP has denied responsibility, while police say the investigation is continuing. Authorities are maintaining a presence in the area to prevent further clashes and restore calm.
