Amidst the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, local media reported that the bodies of 20 leaders of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League have been discovered across the country.
These deaths occurred following the resignation of former Prime Minister Hasina and her departure from Bangladesh on Monday. Violence has erupted in several regions, with the chaos resulting in widespread vandalism and looting of the homes and businesses of Awami League leaders and activists.
Eyewitnesses described an attack on the residence of former councillor Md Shah Alam in Ashoktala, which was set on fire by an “angry mob”, according to the local media. Six persons, including five teenagers, perished in the blaze, with their bodies recovered on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
In a similar incident, four persons died when a mob torched the home of Member of Parliament Shafiqul Islam Shimul of the Natore-2 constituency. Their bodies were discovered in various rooms and balconies of the house.
In Dhaka, parts of the Awami League’s central office in the Gulistan area were repeatedly set on fire. Hundreds of people looted furniture, tiles, rods, and other items from the burning building.
The office was initially set ablaze shortly after Hasina’s resignation and attacked again around 12.30 pm on Tuesday. In Feni, local police discovered the bodies of two Juba League leaders, Mushfiqur Rahim and Badsha Mia, on Wednesday.
Awami League leaders and minorities have become prime targets of the violence sweeping the nation. In a particularly devastating incident, 24 people lost their lives when a mob set fire to the Zabeer International Hotel in the Khulna Division. The hotel, owned by Shahin Chakladar, general secretary of the Jashore District Awami League, was engulfed in flames.
“The bodies were lying on different floors,” said Mamun Mahmud, Deputy Director of Khulna Fire Service. The fire was finally extinguished around 5.45 am local time on Tuesday.
