The CPB office attack in Paltan on Monday night has produced sharply conflicting accounts, with the Communist Party of Bangladesh blaming activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP activists denying the allegation and police offering their own version of events. A group of people attacked Mukti Bhaban, the party’s office in Dhaka’s Paltan area, at around 10pm, according to Dhaka Tribune.
What Happened at Mukti Bhaban
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) said a group of youths launched a sudden assault on its office. CPB Central Committee President Sazzad Zahir Chandan told Dhaka Tribune that the party held BNP and Jamaat activists responsible. BNP activists rejected the claim.
According to reports, tension spread outside Mukti Bhaban after the incident, with supporters of both sides seen chanting slogans. Law enforcement agencies were reported to be on alert to prevent further unrest.
Role of Dipak Shil and the “Joy Bangla” Slogan
Mr Chandan said the situation stemmed from the detention, and subsequent release, of former Bangladesh Chhatra Union president Dipak Shil earlier that evening. According to him, the attackers accused CPB activists of chanting “Joy Bangla”. He said no such slogan had been raised from the party office.
The officer-in-charge of Paltan police station gave a related account to Dhaka Tribune. He said supporters of Mr Shil chanted “Joy Bangla” in celebration after his release from detention, and that some people, angered by the slogan, then attacked the CPB office.
Other outlets reported that the release was followed by a celebratory procession and rally in Purana Paltan by activists of the Chhatra Union and the Jubo Union, the student and youth wings associated with the CPB. They alleged that activists linked to the BNP’s volunteer wing attacked the gathering, and that the confrontation later spread to the party office.
Police Account and Disputed Details
The CPB office attack in Paltan has been described differently depending on the source. In the Dhaka Tribune report, the police officer said some people attacked the office, that an investigation was under way, and that police had positioned themselves between the two groups to prevent further unrest.
Reports by The Business Standard and bdnews24.com, however, said the officer-in-charge denied that an attack or any injuries had occurred. bdnews24.com quoted him as saying that tension persisted outside the CPB office but that there had been no assault or injury.
Several claims made by the CPB and its allied organisations have not been independently confirmed:
- Bangladesh Chhatra Union Central President Mahir Shahriar told bdnews24.com at around 10:30pm that the office had come under attack and that he believed local BNP activists were responsible. He said leaders and members of allied organisations were trapped inside.
- Shakharav Hossain Sebok, central publicity and publication secretary of the Bangladesh Jubo Union, told the Daily Sun that several youths who chanted slogans in support of the ruling BNP vandalised the office. He said they beat up two Jubo Union officials, Iran Molla and Sohel Fakir, and handed them to police, describing them as “associates of the Awami League”. Mr Sebok also said, according to CPB sources, that the attackers locked the main gate of the office before leaving.
- bdnews24.com reported that the party and its allies were accused of links with the Awami League, whose activities are banned. The CPB and its affiliates reject that label.
Accounts also differ on timing. Dhaka Tribune placed the attack at around 10pm, while a CPB central committee member told another outlet that it began at about 9:45pm.
Why the CPB Office Attack in Paltan Matters
The incident has again placed the political climate in the capital under scrutiny, particularly the way slogans and perceived political affiliations can trigger confrontations. It also raises questions about the security of party offices. Mukti Bhaban is the headquarters of the Communist Party of Bangladesh in Purana Paltan and also houses its allied organisations.
Dhaka Tribune reported that police were investigating. Given the contradictory accounts of whether an attack took place, who was involved and whether anyone was hurt, the findings of that inquiry will be important in establishing the facts.
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