Sunday, 17th May 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 17th February 2026, 12:41 AM
A faction of political activists has sparked fresh tension in Chittagong by forcibly reclaiming the Chittagong North District Awami League headquarters. On Monday afternoon, members of the party’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), descended upon the Dosti Building near the New Market intersection to remove rival signage and reinstate their party’s official banner.
The operation was led by Showkat Ul Anam, former Joint Secretary of the North District BCL, and Kazi Suruj, a former central leader of the organisation. According to witnesses and video footage circulating on social media, the activists entered the premises chanting “Joy Bangla” before affixing stickers and a new signboard emblazoned with the party’s name over the doorway.
Upon gaining entry, the activists claimed that the office—which had reportedly been occupied by the National Citizen’s Party (NCP)—had been stripped of its assets. Showkat Ul Anam informed the media that the group had to break the existing locks to enter the fourth-floor suite.
The activists alleged a significant loss of property and historical memorabilia:
Furniture & Electronics: Chairs, tables, microphones, and IPS units were reportedly missing.
Documentation: Office files and administrative records were nowhere to be found.
Historical Artefacts: Portraits of national founding figures and deceased district leaders had been removed or destroyed.
“We found the office completely empty,” Anam stated. “Even the photographs of our late national leaders were gone. We have now secured the premises with our own locks to prevent further encroachment.”
The Dosti Building office has been a flashpoint for political volatility since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024. The following table outlines the sequence of events leading to the recent reclamation:
| Date | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug 2024 | Fall of the Hasina Government | Widespread vandalism of AL offices across Chittagong. |
| 21 Oct 2025 | Takeover by rival youth groups | The office was broken into and portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were destroyed. |
| Nov 2025 | NCP Occupation | Signs for the National Citizen’s Party (NCP) were installed at the site. |
| 15 Feb 2026 | Mural Restoration | BCL activists cleaned the Sheikh Mujib mural at Laldighi Maidan. |
| 16 Feb 2026 | Forced Reclamation | BCL leaders removed NCP signs and reinstated the AL board. |
This incident follows a series of “restoration” efforts by Awami League loyalists in the port city. Just 24 hours prior to the office seizure, BCL activists were seen washing and cleaning the mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Laldighi Maidan, which had been defaced during previous unrest.
The reappearance of Awami League signage in public spaces marks a significant moment of friction. While the NCP’s metropolitan joint coordinator, Arif Moinuddin, had previously been linked to the office’s occupation, the party has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the forceful eviction of their Chittagong headquarters. Local authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation at New Market to prevent further clashes between rival political cadres.
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