Vandals Attack Home of Deceased Awami League Minister in Natore

NATORE — Unidentified miscreants on motorcycles launched a targeted attack on the residence of the late Awami League state minister, Abdul Kuddus, in Gurudaspur, Natore, causing significant structural damage to the property.

The incident took place at approximately 2:00 pm on Sunday, 9 August, in the Kacharipara neighborhood under Gurudaspur municipality. CCTV footage retrieved from the scene depicts a group of assailants arriving on 25 to 30 motorcycles outside the main entrance. Members of the gang began pelting stones and bricks at the outer gate, windows, and main doors of the building. The barrage shattered window panes and destroyed surveillance cameras mounted around the compound. The attackers fled after nearly ten minutes of violence, leaving broken glass and debris scattered across the driveway.

Tensions Escalate in Post-Political Vacuum

Abdul Kuddus, a prominent political figure in northern Bangladesh, served as the State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock during the 1996–2001 Awami League administration. He also held the post of president of the Natore District Awami League for a prolonged period before his passing on 31 August 2023. Family members confirmed that his municipal residence in Gurudaspur had remained locked and unoccupied since 5 August 2024, amid the widespread political shifts and safety concerns following the fall of the Awami League government.

Speaking via telephone, the late minister’s son, Asif Abdullah Bin Kuddus, condemned the incident and attributed political motives to the assault. He stated that his recent social media posts highlighting regional electricity shortages had drawn the ire of local political rivals. “Over the past few days, I wrote on Facebook regarding the dire electricity situation. I believe out of vendetta, they [the Bangladesh Nationalist Party] attacked our house,” Asif said. He added that during his father’s quarter-century tenure in public office, their family had never resorted to targeted hostility against opposition figures.

Wave of Targeted Nighttime Raid and Police Response

The attack on the former state minister’s home follows closely on the heels of another violent incident in the region. Late on Saturday night, armed miscreants allegedly looted the home of Rezaul Karim, also known as Sabuj Fakir, the joint general secretary of the municipal Awami League, who is currently incarcerated in connection with a sabotage case. According to family members, the intruders broke into the house and made off with approximately seven bhoris of gold ornaments alongside 150,000 Taka in cash.

Responding to the allegations, Gurudaspur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Riaz Hasan stated that law enforcement received reports of an attempt to target the former minister’s home during a passing procession. However, the officer noted that no formal written complaint has been lodged with the station regarding the attack. Police assured that a thorough investigation will commence and appropriate legal actions will be taken as soon as an official complaint is submitted by the affected family.